Bible Study

Jesus - I AM the Light of the World

 Last week we started with John 8:12

John tells us the time frame back in chapter 7 of when Jesus makes this statement. It is during or around the Feast of Tabernacles.  This feast was a seven day feast that commemorated when the Israelites left Egypt and were guided by God through the wilderness via the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

Jesus is claiming He is the Light!

When the Pharisee's heard this statement they heard "I AM Messiah" because in Jewish thought light always represented God's glory, holiness, and purity.  Light is also one of the definitions of God

Jesus' claim also came with a promise..."whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

There is a promise of having the Source of Life

To have the confidence in that Source

To know that Source and to know He is trustworthy

There is a choice involved here.  Not everyone who heard these words chose to follow him (see John 8:20 and John 8:30)

There is also an order here.  Whoever FOLLOWS me will have LIFE.

Just like the Israelites in the wilderness we too must see where God is directing us and follow His lead.  We must choose to follow Him.

Once we come to faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us everything we need to be able to grow in our spiritual walk.  He gives us His Word and His Holy Spirit to be our guiding light.

God's Word - we learn what God is like and what He thinks about things by reading His Word. Through His Word we are provided direction and instruction

Psalm 119:105, 130

Proverbs 20:27

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in our daily spiritual walk.

He reminds us what we have read or memorized in God's Word (John 14:26)

He convicts us of our current sins (John 16:8, 13)

As we read God's Word the Holy Spirit can use that to shed light on areas in our lives where there needs to be a change

Isaiah 55:10,11

2 Timothy 3:16,17

Hebrews 4:12

Light exposes sin.  It penetrates the darkness. It can be uncomfortable, unsettling, even painful. But it is necessary.

So we have to stop and ask ourselves some questions:

How high of a priority do I place on reading the Bible?

How often do I spend reading God's Word?

When you come across Scripture that makes you uncomfortable how do you respond? Ignore it? Get defensive? or humbly ask God for forgiveness and then begin to make the necessary changes in your life?

How will you ask the Holy Spirit to help you when you read the Bible?