I AM...The Light of the World

Real Dudes,
Below is the link to the message I had the opportunity to preach last Sunday. Also, below are the notes if you'd rather read through some of it. Don't feel obligated to watch or read, just something available to each of you. Was thankful for what God spoke to me and would love to share that with each of you as well. Hope y'all are doing amazing...miss ya!
Nate
Link to message:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ZxHBRf8b4&list=PLapnQlqbrLuJhPsDYnDxpr89ly2c27aAX&t=6s

​Message Notes:
John 8:2-20 (CSB) 
An Adulteress Forgiven
2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.
Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.
“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
The Light of the World
12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?”
“You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.


The Light of the World 

• Who is the Light of the World and what does that mean? 
• John 8:12
  • Jesus claims that “I am the light of the world. 
  • In John 9:5 (CSB) Jesus says that, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
• This is a “light in contrast to darkness”
  • 1 John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.

Big Idea: 

• The Light of the World Exposes/Reveals All Things. 

Exposed…

• When you think of being exposed, what comes to mind? 
  • A hospital gown. 
  • Bambi, don’t run into the open field…it’s not safe there.  
  • The life of a cockroach. 
    • Why do cockroaches scatter when the lights are turned on?

• They’re being confronted with something they’re completely uncomfortable with. 
• Darkness is their safe place. 
• They want to do all they can to Avoid Human Interaction.
• People share similarities when it comes to being confronted with The Light.

• The Feeling of being exposed also makes people feel…
  • Uncomfortable
  • Vulnerable
  • Anxious
  • Skittish
  • Paranoid

• John 3:2, 20 (CSB) 
  • John 3:2 This man came to him at night [there’s the comparison with a cockroach] and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”
    20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 

The I AM…The Light of the World…exposes all things, but today we only have time to discuss three truths about what The Light is capable of Exposing as seen in John 8:2-20.  


The First Truth about what The Light is capable of exposing…is Himself through The Word. 
The Light Exposes/Reveals Himself through The Word

• John 8:2, 6, 8, 20...
  • 2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.
  • 6 …Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 
  • 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 
  • 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple…
• In my study, I spent some time researching throughout the Gospels every reference to the words Teach and Taught in connection to Jesus. 

• Model
  • His Father..In John 8:28 (CSB) 
    • So Jesus said to them, “...I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things.
• Mission
  • To teach and preach
• Method
  • Choose a Location
    • In cities; synagogues; temples; treasuries; in a boat by the sea; throughout the world…
  • Consider His Posture
    • He sat to teach (Mark 4:1; John 8:2)
• Select an Audience
  • Crowds/Great Multitudes/and to Many
  • Jews and Gentiles alike
  • Disciples
  • His own countrymen 
• Message…how He chose to communicate to them…

• Verbally; Authority; Openly; Rightly/Correctly/Honestly; Imparting wisdom; Parables; Many things; He taught the way of God in truth; Prediction of future events (Mark 8:31; 9:31)

• Motive…His heart-motive and attitude. 
  • How did He choose to communicate with His audiences? 
  • What I love most about the way in which He taught was that He did so because He was Moved with compassion (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34)
  • Hebrews 13:8 (CSB) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
    • He always chose to teach and preach with a heart of compassion. 

The Light clearly chose to and still chooses to expose Himself through His Word. This is why we at Faith Fellowship  highly encourage daily devotions, bible reading, bible classes, and small groups. Environments where His Word is open, discussed, and grown in. 

• 2 Timothy 3:16 (CSB) All Scripture [that is God’s Word] is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
• That leads us into our second truth…

The Second Truth about what The Light is capable of exposing…is one’s Flaws. 
The Light Exposes/Reveals one’s Flaws 

• John 8:3-9

3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 

6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 
Two objects in Scripture that are used as examples to expose one’s flaws are…

• Mirrors: Our first point this morning looked at His Word. His Word is the Mirror that exposes one’s flaws…

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
• James 1:23-25 (CSB) 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. 

• Pottery:
  • 2 Cor. 4:6-7 (CSB) 6- For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 7- Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
  • Philippians 1:10 (CSB) so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,
  • Many people are like a cracked piece of pottery and light is needed to expose them. 
• Proverbs 6:23 (NKJV) For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
• When Exposing one’s flaws
  • Hold them up to the mirror, and to the light. 
  • Consider the Source. 
    • Hypocrites
      • Matthew 15:7-8, worship with lips, but hearts are far from Me. 
    • Prideful
      • Pride. 
        • Matthew 23:3–5 
          • they don’t practice what they teach. 
          • Burden others
          • They do everything to be seen by others
    • Liars
      • John 8:43-47 (CSB) tells us that they learned it from their father the devil.
        
        
        
    • So, was she innocent…or just bait in the trap to catch Jesus in a contradiction? 
• Take this into consideration as well, there were sloppy allegations and misapplications of the Law by those who knew the Law forward and backward…
  • First, The Trap…
    • One author states that “If Jesus rejected the law of Moses, His credibility would be gone. [In addition,] If he held to Mosaic Law, His reputation for compassion and forgiveness would have been questioned.” 
    • The trap was a lose-lose for Him in their eyes. 
• So, what did the law really say…
  • About those involved in adultery? 
    • Both parties were put to death. 
    • So where’s the other party involved in this act? 
  • What did the Law say about being a witness? 
    • Must be at least two witnesses, and they are to be the first to cast a stone and then others can start throwing. 
  • Ephesians 5:11…don’t participate, but expose. 

• Lessons about flaws…
  • They will eventually come to light. It’s just a matter of time and they will be Exposed…
    Numbers 32:23 be sure your sins will find you out. 
  • 1 John 1:8-10 (CSB) 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
  • 1 Kings 8:38-39 (CSB) 
    • 38 they each know their own affliction [plague]…

39 may you hear in heaven, your dwelling place,
and may you forgive, act, and give to everyone
according to all their ways, since you know each heart, for you alone know every human heart,

• Therefore, 
  • Matthew 7:1 (CSB) “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.
• Therefore, 
  • Examine yourself. The Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11.
  • Expose yourself before Him before He has to expose you either privately or even sometimes publically. 
  • Take care of it right away, or He will take action and Judge.” Why? Because there is no darkness in Him. 
• There were two left in the center...the best place was side by side with Emmanuel, which is where the woman “caught in adultery” was standing. 

He exposes Himself through His Word, and through His Word our flaws are exposed, now what should we be reminded of? What decision are when then faced with once our flaws have been exposed by His word? Do we attempt to continue to hide from The Light of the World, even when knowing that our sin will eventually find us out? Or do we make it our practiced response to come to Him seeking His mercy and forgiveness right away? 


The Third Truth about what The Light is capable of exposing…is His Mercy!!!
The Light Exposes/Reveals His Mercy and Forgiveness. 

• John 8:10-11, 14-16

10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 

• In regards to verse 16, My judgment is true, meaning that what was being spoken is undeniably factual. 

• What was His ruling in all of this? 
  • No condemnation…verses 10-11. 
    • Luke 6:37 (CSB) "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
  • Mercy expressed…verse 11. 
    • Mercy is Who He is and how He operates. 
    • Mercy meaning…He is withholding a punishment of which you deserve. 
      • Eph. 2:4 (CSB) But God, who is rich in mercy
      • Titus 3:5 (CSB) he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
    • Forgiveness…wiping your slate clean. 

Listen, He exposes Himself in His Word, Through His Word He exposes our flaws, And when we come to Him with a repentant heart He exposes His mercy to those in sin. 


Take Aways…

• Get to know Him and His word. 
  • John 8:19 (CSB) 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” “You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 
  • Know, meaning…believe in Him and begin a relationship with Him. Have a relationship with Him. 
    • John 12:35-36, 46 (CSB)
      35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then [He] went away and hid from them. “
      46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness. 
• Don’t fear being confronted by The Light through the reading and preaching / teaching of His word…THE Light is good and healthy. 
  • Arizona sun in the month of March. 
• If He exposes some of your flaws and brings them to surface, Then…
  • Repent; Pray for mercy and forgiveness; And then go and make every effort to no longer live in darkness. 
  • Ephesians 5:11 (CSB) Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.
• Dedicate your life to Following The Light of the World. 
  • John 8:12 (CSB) 12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
  • Follow meaning, walk in obedience. 
    • How do we interpret verse 12 when He says that we “Will never walk in darkness”?
      • Peripateo (BDAG, p. 803) ou ma + aor. subjunctive…impossibility…will never walk, 
      • If we were 100% perfect, then we would be emulating the light 100% of the time. We’re not perfect, but we should be making every effort to live in the light and growing in spiritual maturity. 
    • Obedience takes humility and honesty before Him. 
      • 1 John 1:5-7 (CSB) 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

If you’re here today and you want to place your faith and trust in Him but unsure of how to do that or what the looks like, then please see me up front after the service. 

If you’re here today and you want to follow Jesus but are unsure of what that looks like, then again, please see me or reach out to me. 

Excited to see how God is going to work through this I AM series and in your life.