Jesus Light Of The World

Jesus Light Of The World

Introduction (John 8:12):
Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world.” Near the cross in John 12, with Jerusalem stirred by Lazarus’ raising, He offered hope that outshines darkness. In Him the world receives revelation, cleansing, guidance, and life. Those who follow Him “shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The Setting: Light Shining Near the Cross
John 11–12 places Jesus in Jerusalem days before Calvary. Many testified to the raising of Lazarus; others plotted murder, even of Lazarus himself (John 11:53; 12:10–11). Greeks arrived with a simple request, “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:20–21). This is the right request for every age. The world is thick with confusion, fear, and sin’s shadow; yet Christ enters as the true Light, calling every nation to see, believe, and live (John 12:35–36, 46).

Who He Is: The Divine Light Revealed
Scripture presents Jesus as more than a moral teacher. He is God with us (Isaiah 9:2, 6; Matthew 1:22–23). John opens, “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In Him was life, and that life was the light of men; the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:4–5). Gabriel announced to Mary that her Son would reign without end (Luke 1:30–33). John the Baptizer saw Him and cried, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Jesus identified Himself with covenant names and saving images: the Way, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World (John 8:12; 10:7, 11; 14:6). Because He is the Son of God, His light is holy, sovereign, and sufficient.

What He Did: Perfect Light in Word and Deed
The Sermon on the Mount shows His perfect teaching: He exposes anger, lust, retaliation, and shallow love at the heart level (Matthew 5:21–22, 27–28, 38–44). He sets our priorities on treasures in heaven and single-hearted loyalty (Matthew 6:19–21, 24). His words need no revision; truth shines from the first utterance to the last. His deeds match His doctrine. He returned good for evil, prayed for His persecutors, valued the soul above the world, and laid down His life to save sinners (Luke 23:34; Matthew 16:26). Had He sinned once, there would be no spotless Lamb; yet He was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

What He Offers: Light for Forgiveness and Life
Humanity sits in darkness through sin (1 John 3:4). Jesus came “to take away our sins” and to be “the propitiation… for the whole world” (1 John 3:5; 2:2; 4:10). The blood of bulls and goats could not remove sin; His once-for-all sacrifice does (Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:4, 10). We enter this grace by obeying the gospel: united with Christ in baptism, we are buried into His death and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3–4). Then, as we “walk in the light,” His blood continually cleanses us (1 John 1:7). He grants living hope through His resurrection and an inheritance kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:3–5; John 3:16; Romans 6:23).

How We Walk in His Light Today
To follow Christ is to refuse the shadows and step into daily obedience—hearing the word, believing, repenting, confessing His name, being baptized, and persevering in faith (Romans 10:17; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:9–10; Romans 6:3–4; 1 John 1:7–9). The Light shapes our priorities, purifies our loves, and makes us beacons to others (Matthew 5:14–16). In a world chasing lesser lights, the church holds forth the word of life and points every heart to the One who never fails (Philippians 2:15–16; John 12:32).

Jesus Light Of The World Sermon Outline:

• Introduction: John 8:12; John 12—Christ’s light near the cross invites every nation to believe.

• I. The Setting: Light in a Dark Hour

  • Lazarus raised; opposition hardens (John 11:43–53; 12:10–11).

  • “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:20–21).

• II. Who He Is: The Divine Light

  • Promised King and Immanuel (Isaiah 9:2, 6; Matthew 1:22–23; Luke 1:30–33).

  • Eternal Word; Light that darkness cannot overcome (John 1:1–5, 29).

  • “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

• III. What He Did: Perfect Word and Work

  • Heart-deep righteousness (Matthew 5:21–22, 27–28, 38–44; 6:19–21, 24).

  • Cross-shaped love; sinless Savior (Hebrews 4:15; Luke 23:34).

• IV. What He Offers: Forgiveness and Life

  • Atonement by His blood (1 John 2:2; 3:5; 4:10; Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:10).

  • Union with Christ in baptism; new life (Romans 6:3–4; 1 John 1:7).

  • Living hope and eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3–5; John 3:16; Romans 6:23).

• V. How We Walk in His Light

  • Hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized; continue in the light (Romans 10:17; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:9–10; Romans 6:3–4; 1 John 1:7–9).

  • Shine for Christ in a dark world (Matthew 5:14–16; Philippians 2:15–16).

• Conclusion: The Light has come. Follow Him and live.

Call to Action:
Come to the Light who never dims. If you have not obeyed the gospel, believe in Jesus, repent of sins, confess His name, and be baptized into His death and resurrection. If you have drifted, return and walk in the light; He is faithful and just to forgive. Take up your place as a lamp set on a stand for the glory of God.

Key Takeaways:

• Jesus is Immanuel and eternal Word; His life is the Light of men (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1–5).

• He proclaimed heart-deep righteousness and lived it perfectly (Matthew 5–6; Hebrews 4:15).

• His blood atones for sin; in baptism we unite with His death and rise to new life (Hebrews 9:11–14; Romans 6:3–4; 1 John 1:7).

• Following Him means walking in the light and shining for others (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14–16; 1 John 1:7–9).

• He grants living hope and an incorruptible inheritance (1 Peter 1:3–5; John 3:16).

Scripture Reference List:
John 8:12—Light of the world and light of life
John 11:43–53; 12:10–11, 20–21—Lazarus raised; opposition; “we would see Jesus”
Isaiah 9:2, 6—People in darkness see a great light; promised Son
Matthew 1:22–23—Immanuel, God with us
Luke 1:30–33—Heir to David’s throne, endless reign
John 1:1–5, 29—Eternal Word; Light; Lamb of God
Matthew 5:21–22, 27–28, 38–44; 6:19–21, 24—Heart righteousness, true priorities
Hebrews 4:15—Tempted yet without sin
Luke 23:34—Prayer from the cross
Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:4, 10—Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice
1 John 2:2; 3:5; 4:10—Propitiation; sins taken away
Romans 6:3–4—Baptized into His death; raised to new life
1 John 1:7–9—Walk in the light; continual cleansing; confession and forgiveness
1 Peter 1:3–5—Living hope; guarded inheritance
John 3:16; Romans 6:23—Eternal life in Christ
Matthew 5:14–16; Philippians 2:15–16—Shining as lights; holding forth the word

Prepared by Robert Moss