john 7:1-14 after this, jesus went around in galilee, purposely staying away from judea because the...
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“You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.TRANSCRIPT
John 7:1-14After this, Jesus went around in Galilee,
purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him:
“You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. 8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” 9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.
10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, “Where is that man?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.
John 8:12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Today:“I am the Light of the
World”
“I Am the Light of the World”:Knowing God’s Guidance
John 7:1-4, 8:12
Going on a tripMap or atlas
GPSGod’s Positioning System
God desires to give direction to us. Central theme in Jesus’ words:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life.” (John 8:12)
Into the WordImportant to know the context
The Festival of Tabernacles (or Booths)Annual Jewish festival
John 7:1-14After this, Jesus went around in Galilee,
purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do…
Jewish festival to remember how God gave them direction in the wilderness
They lived in temporary shelters or “huts” in the desert
During the festival they lived in booths (“sukkot” in Hebrew)
Still done today
The purpose of the festival…A time remember
Their ancestors journey in the wildernessOut of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land
How God gave them guidance 2 Pillars
Smoke and Fire
It was in this setting that Jesus revealed himself
Seemingly reluctant at first, He went and began to teach
People didn’t know what to make of him
10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, “Where is that man?”
12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.
14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.
The Grand Illumination
John 8:12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
What a bold statement Jesus was making!He was saying that he would guide them
like God had guided his people Just like bread was a symbol
the Jews understood, The symbol of light was one
they should have understood alsoHe was pointing the way to the Father
The Jewish leaders were nervous (7:32-52, 8:13-20)
The Sanhedrin met, against their own law,
to decide what to do with JesusThe Hall of
Hewn Stones
The Sanhedrin’s concernConsider the meaning of Jesus’ words
He is comparing himself to God He is revealing something entirely new!
It will turn the world upside downDisrupt the Jewish expectations
Jesus threatened accepted beliefs Couldn’t see the truth due to legalism
Putting it all together“I am the light of the world.”
Draws upon Jewish image of guidanceWe all need guidance
Sometimes we recognize the need, sometimes we don’t
The image of the sukkot festival is a good reminder that we need to seek
God’s direction
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”Jesus gives us light for our journeyIt is not as simple as using a GPS
Our route is not so clearStopping points not always obvious
Road trips where we meander can yield unexpected blessings and get us
into difficult situations
The key is to stay connected to God through his Word and prayer and
with his people
Our route in life is not necessarily about geographic location:
Our way of thinking Purpose in life
Priorities in what we doThe way we interact
GPS feature:The little blinking dot that shows us
where we are If we make a wrong turn, we see it
We are rerouted In our lives it is not always so easy to
see where we are in lifeThe amazing thing is that God can
even use our meandering!
Rob Fuquay raises some good questions:What is the power of the person who
recognizes their need for God’s direction? What does it look like when, like the
Sanhedrin, we refuse to recognize our need for God’s guidance?
What does it mean to be open to God’s direction when we don’t think
we need to change direction? What does it mean to seek God’s
guidance willingly?
Jesus said:“I am the light of the world.”
Litany
When we look around us and feel that only darkness and emptiness surround us, illuminate our hearts with Jesus’ words, “I am the Light of the World.”
When we look for God in the places of pain and suffering, pleading for that holy presence to be made evident even in the gloomiest of places, help us to see God at work through Jesus’ promise, “I am the Light of the World.”
When we feel far away from God, even when we try to create that distance ourselves, remind us that the love of God is always touching us through Jesus’ words, “I am the Light of the World.”
When we can’t figure out where to go next, what to do, or who to be, help us to hear God’s call and see the path illuminated for us by the one who says, “I am the Light of the World.”
When we wonder how we will go out into the world and shine God’s light, sharing God’s love with all the earth, let us follow Jesus’ lead as he reveals himself to us, saying, “I am the Light of the World.” Amen.