I am the Light of the World

to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 86 in the Scottish Psalter.

Psalm 86, page 341, the Scottish Psalter version. We're going to sing from verse 11 down to verse

15. Teach me thy way and in thy truth. O Lord, then walk will I. Unite my heart that I thy name

may fear continually. O Lord, my God, with all my heart, to thee I will give praise, and

the glory will ascribe unto thy name always. We'll sing from verse 11 to 15, and the tune

is Kilmarnock, to God's praise.

O Lord, then walk will I. There light my heart that I thy name may fear continually. O Lord,

my God, with all my heart, to thee I will give praise. And I, the glory will ascribe unto thy name,

glory. Because thy mercy to worthy, and great rest thou excel. And thou deliver us my soul,

and from the Lord, and from the Lord, O God, the proud against me right, and my life may

O God, the proud against me right, and my life may thou may.

And thou flow to battle, and my soul ascribe unto thy soul to thee, for thy soul has no family.

And for thy soul has no family, hairstysiae, they more than have no respect.

Father who made it.

Suffering hand in my youth

And mercy, let me hear all

Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.

Let us pray.

Our gracious Lord in heaven,

we do thank you to be able to come

and praise you as the one who is worthy of it.

We thank you for these words that we have sung together.

They remind us that we are to with all our heart

give praise to thee and to give glory

unto thy name always.

And we thank you that day by day

you remind us of every reason

why we have to give praise to you,

that you are the God who provides for us,

that you are the God who watches over us,

that you are the God who meets our needs

in so many different ways.

And you are the one who remembers us

in our frailties.

Even though we are like the dust of the ground,

we thank you that you see us,

that you see us through your Son, Christ Jesus,

that you see us not as we are sinners

unworthy of any of your mercies,

but that you are full of mercy,

that your mercies are plenteous towards us.

For we do not deserve it,

yet you have given to us through your Son, Christ Jesus,

all our needs to be met in him.

And we thank you that when we were lost,

when we were, like the Bible describes,

sheep without a shepherd,

when we were wandering astray,

that you sent him as a shepherd,

an overseer for us,

one who would gather his people,

gather his own,

and take them to himself,

one who would come,

and even the poorest,

the frailest of sheep,

he would carry in his bosom.

He would hold them close.

And we thank you for that wonderful imagery

that your Word gives us,

of the very compassion and care of our Savior,

that he has such a gracious love towards us,

that he never casts any away from him,

but he always invites us to come,

to come no matter our situation or circumstances,

to come no matter our past or present,

no matter where we are in life.

The invitation of the Gospel goes out,

and we marvel at that,

in a world that so much despises

and casts you away,

that your mercy is still more in the midst of it all.

And we do pray, Lord,

to know your mercy upon us,

to know your mercy upon us,

as our people here and as our community,

that we would know your favour upon us, Lord,

that we would know what it is for you

to work in us and through us and around us,

to know what it is to see your Spirit giving life,

to see your Spirit bringing hope to the hopeless,

to see your Spirit opening the eyes of the blind,

bringing your Spirit upon us, Lord,

to draw us close to yourself,

that you would pour it upon us,

even in these days,

to know, Lord,

the wonder of your reviving power.

And we thank you for your word that is truth.

We thank you that it stands firm

through all generations,

passed down from so many,

even in our own communities and islands here.

We thank you for those who have upheld it,

who have stood firm on it,

who continue to this day to uphold your truth.

And we pray that as your people here,

your truth would be the very foundation of our lives and our being,

that we would see it not just as words from pages in front of us,

but that we would see it as the living word of God,

that living word that is active and powerful,

sharper than any two-edged sword,

able to pierce into our very soul and being.

And we thank you for the power of your word,

that it is that word that gives life.

And we pray in the preaching of it,

and as we hear it even this evening anew,

that you would speak to us,

and that you would give us ears to hear as we hear it read,

and as we consider it together,

that we would see the wonder,

the beauty of Jesus with us,

the one who is the I am,

the one who we see this evening as we come to read your word,

as the one who is the light of the world.

And so we pray that that light would go out in our midst here

and throughout our communities,

throughout our land,

throughout the world,

as we see the tensions and the difficulties around us

in so many different places.

We think of the Middle East as tensions continue to rise there,

a place, O Lord,

that we know is precious to you

and your people who are precious to you.

And yet we see the violence,

we see the worries, the fears,

we see the death and atrocities taking place.

And Lord, in our human hearts,

we are so wicked to the core.

We do not judge, for we are wicked ourselves,

but yet we know that we need you in the midst of it all.

We pray that people there will come to realize the futility of it.

We pray, Lord,

people to realize their need of peace

and that peace that comes from you.

And so we pray, Lord,

that you will have mercy there,

have mercy in the Ukraine and Russia.

As ongoing conflict there continues,

we pray, Lord,

for peace to come.

We pray for that in the midst of all the different needs

around us and in this world.

Lord, we know, Lord,

that life brings its troubles,

its sorrows.

So the ones that we see so internationally,

and yet the many that are known only in our own hearts

or in a small number around us,

but yet, Lord, known to you.

And we thank you that in our needs, O Lord,

that you are there,

that you are there to give us the light of the gospel,

the light of life,

and that we would follow you.

And Lord, help us to see you

and to know you in these things.

And for us to make known Jesus to all around us,

to pray for people around us,

to commit our lives unto you in all things.

And we thank you for every opportunity we have to serve you.

We thank you for our people,

young and old alike,

and we thank you for the way that we are able to bring the gospel

to many people in many different ways.

And we do pray for this coming week with the holiday club taking place.

We thank you for all that has been done in preparation for it.

We ask your blessing over all things in these coming days,

your protection over everyone who comes and goes,

your strength towards all who help,

and your blessing on all who come.

Families and children alike,

Lord, we pray to see your hand upon us for good.

We pray too, Lord, for our community as a whole in these days.

We pray for those who mourn,

for those who are unwell,

for those who struggle in life in many different ways.

We do pray, Lord,

for your help and your strength.

We thank you for times of holiday

and seeing visitors in our midst over these days.

We thank you for all who find that time of refreshment

either coming here on holiday or going away on holiday.

But we are mindful too of those who are unable to do so,

those who maybe cannot afford it

or those who have other commitments,

those who have lives that are hectic and busy

in so many different ways.

And we just pray, Lord,

for your help and your strength

and your mercy upon us in all of these things.

And so we do pray, Lord,

that you will continue with us this evening,

guide us in our worship,

give us that song of praise in our heart

to lift up to you as we sing praise to you, Lord.

May we do so with gladness of heart

and with joy on our lips

and lifting our voices together.

We pray, Lord,

praising you as our Lord and as our God.

May you hear our prayers

as we offer them up to you in the name of Jesus.

May you hear them as we speak them

and as we utter them in our hearts,

that you would be pleased to answer according to your will.

And may you guide us, Lord,

and help us to know your spirit with us.

For we know that as your word says,

apart from you we can do nothing.

And so we pray that your presence will be real to us this night,

that you will be near,

that you will draw close to us

as we seek to draw close to you.

So continue with us and pardon all our sin.

That's all we ask.

We ask in that precious name above every name,

the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

and for his glory.

Amen.

We'll again sing to God's praise,

this time in Psalm 62.

In the Scottish Psalter, once again,

Psalm 62, page 294 of the Psalm books.

And we'll sing from verse 5 down to verse 8.

Psalm 62 at verse 5.

My soul, wait thou with patience upon thy God alone.

On him dependeth all my hope and expectation.

He only my salvation is,

and my strong rock is he.

He only is my sure defense,

I shall not move it be.

We'll sing from verse 5 down to verse 8,

and the tune is Martyrdom.

We stand to sing to God's praise.

My soul, wait thou with patience upon thy God alone.

On him dependeth all my hope and expectation.

He only my salvation is,

and my strong rock is he.

He only is my sure defense,

I shall not move it be.

In God my glory place in it,

and my salvation sure.

In God the Lord is all my strength,

My refuge most secure.

His fire, the Messiah said,

fuego esté human rí sand,

the lead

before

and for

the

under

heart

God is

the

recognized

high

we're going to turn to reading the gospel of John

John 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

John chapter 8 we're going to take up

John 8 · chapter mention

our reading at verse 12

and read down to

verse 30 but just put it into

context where we take up

our reading at verse 12 is really

following on from the end

of chapter 7 the whole of

chapter 7 speaks

about the festival that was going on

at this time the feast of booths

and it's in light of this

feast that's going on

that's coming to an end as we'll see

as we look at this passage together

this evening

as we come into chapter 8

this feast

went on for a week

and it's coming to an end as we read

in verse 12

where Jesus

utters these words

I am

the light

of the world

so it was in the midst of this feast

that Jesus was speaking

so we bear that in mind as we read

these words together

John 8

and at verse 12

again Jesus spoke to them

saying

I am the light of the world

whoever follows me

will not walk in darkness

but will have

the light of life

so the Pharisee said to him

you are bearing witness

about yourself

your testimony is not true

Jesus answered

even if I do bear witness

about myself

my testimony is true

for I know where I came from

and where I am going

but you do not know

where I come from

or where I am going

you judge according to the flesh

I judge no one

yet even if I do judge

my judgment is true

for it is not I alone who judge

but I and the Father who sent me

in your law it is written

that the testimony of two men

is true

I am the one

who bears witness

about myself

and the Father who sent me

bears witness about me

they said to him therefore

where is your Father

Jesus answered

you know neither me

nor my Father

if you knew me

you would know my Father also

these words he spoke

in the treasury

as he taught in the temple

but no one arrested him

because his hour

had not yet come

so he said to them again

I am going away

and you will seek me

and you will die

in your sin

where I am going

you cannot come

so the Jews said

will he kill himself

since he says

where I am going

you cannot come

he said to them

you are from below

I am from above

you are of this world

I am not of this world

I told you that you would die

in your sins

for unless you believe

that I am he

you will die in your sins

so they said to him

who are you

Jesus said to them

just what I have been telling you

from the beginning

I have much to say about you

and much to judge

but he who sent me

is true

and I declare to the world

that I have heard from him

they did not understand

that he had been speaking

to them

about the father

so Jesus said to them

when you have lifted up

the son of man

then you will know

that I am he

and that I do nothing

on my own authority

but speak

just as the father taught me

and he who sent me

is with me

he has not left me alone

for I always do the things

that are pleasing to him

as he was saying

these things

many believed in him

and so on

and may God bless

that reading

from his word

before we turn back

to look at this passage together

we're going to sing again

to God's praise

in Psalm 27

the Sing Psalms version

Psalm 27

on page 32

we're going to sing

from verse 9

down to the end

of the psalm

and the psalm

begins with these words

that tie into

what we're looking at

this evening

as the Lord's

light towards us

the Lord's my saviour

and my light

a psalm

that the people of God

would often sing

and as we'll see

it ties into

what we're looking at

this evening

they were looking

for the light

who would bring them

salvation

and then at verse 9

we read these words

so do not hide

your face from me

and do not turn aside

your servant

in your righteous wrath

for you have been

my guide

O God my saviour

leave me not

do not reject my plea

my parents may forsake me

Lord

but you

will welcome me

we'll sing from verse 9

down to the end

of the psalm

and the tune is

Belmont

oh do not hide

your face from me

and do not turn aside

your servant

your servant

in your righteous wrath

for you have been

my guide

O God my saviour

leave me not

do not reject

my thing

my parents may

forsake me

Lord

but you

will welcome

me

teach me

teach me

O Lord

how I

should live

and lead me

in your way

make straight

my path

be close

my foes

O praise

O praise

me

every day

give me

give me

your door

to the will

of the

event

and

and

and

for

liars

rise

to

slander

me

and

leave

the

cruelty

yet

I

am

sure

that

the

endless

life

God's

goodness

I

will

see

with

Lord

the Lord

peace

come

take heart

from

him

wait

patiently

we

can turn

back to a

reading in John chapter 8 and read again at verse 12

John 8 · chapter mention

12

John 8 at verse 12

again Jesus spoke to them saying I am the light of the world whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life

a couple of

a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday evening we were looking at John chapter 6 and Jesus coming to his disciples on the water and in that passage as he comes to them he says a word of comfort to them it is I do not be afraid and as we were looking at that passage we were seeking seeing how that word or these words it is I I really I am

John 6 · chapter mention

and how they tie back to Exodus chapter 3 where God met with Moses in the burning bush and Moses was asking him as he was about to be sent to Pharaoh who will I say sent me and God said to him say I am has sent you and we were reminded in that passage of how God has promised to be with his people there he met in Exodus with Moses in a

Exodus 3 · chapter mention

burning bush a place of light and as you go through the Old Testament you find that so often the Lord with his people is seen with them as light and in that way he is light and life to them in different ways

the Exodus itself is a great example to us of the way the Lord was with his people through the pillar of fire the pillar of cloud by night there was this great pillar of fire that was with them that protected them that led them every step of the way the Lord was with them

that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that psalm that we sang together there psalm 27 again there's that powerful reminder the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear

many of the psalms are full of that theme of the light of God psalm 119 speaks of the word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path it guides us along the way

there are also many prophecies looking to the coming of Jesus that show it in that sense of God's presence through light light to the nations

Isaiah chapter 49 verse 6 it's one of these servant songs as it's known we're speaking there about the Lord Jesus

Isaiah 49:6

and it says I will make you as a light for the nations that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth

so you see it right through the Old Testament there is that theme of the light to the world the light

to the nations and that ultimately this is going to be fulfilled in Christ

when you think of significant events that we have in our world at different times maybe our calendar year is filled with different kinds of events

events that often have fire or fireworks or something like that in its midst special occasions like Guy Fawkes

New Year's Day and other significant events there's often bonfires there's often fireworks up into the sky lighting up the night sky

and then this week we've seen an event a festival if you like with the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris

and if you haven't seen it it's certainly been in the news since

so often when the Olympic Games begin it's the focus is on the lighting of the Olympic flame the torch lights up this flame that burns

for the duration of the games

this time they've sought to make this something a little bit more controversial

by bringing other things into it

they were the organizers were saying we wanted to give a strong a message as possible

and the message that they were giving is not a message that should surprise us in the world that we live

it's a message of confusion

a message that's got its heart in darkness

but we are thankful that tonight as we come to God's word

we have a strong message

that we have a powerful message that speaks to us

light and life as you see going through the Old Testament

we see it fulfilled in the new in Christ Jesus

and the Gospel of John in particular

is full of this theme of life and light

as it's found in Christ

and here in chapter 8 in verse 12

we have one of the I am sayings of Jesus

as we said last time when we were looking at Jesus saying

do not be afraid

I am I am with you

well here in chapter 8 we've got one of these occasions

where Jesus shows us how he is with us

and he says in this verse

I am the light of the world

whoever follows me will not walk in darkness

but will have the light of life

as I said at the beginning

this when he was speaking

was in the midst of a great festival

that was taking place

the festival of booths or tabernacles

as it's called

we're going to focus on that in a wee moment

and it was a time when there were many people

gathered in Jerusalem

chapter 7

if you read through it

it shows us all that was going on

this was a festival that lasted a week

a festival that brought thousands of people together

in Jerusalem

and when we think of festivals today

so often the summertime is called festival season

throughout our land

you think of festivals

it's often a site of fields

filled with tents and thousands of people

well Jerusalem at this time

of the feast of booths

it was these booths

these tents that the people had to live in

they set up camp as it were

in Jerusalem

as this festival was going on

because it was a time

when they were giving thanks to God

for his deliverance towards them

from the wilderness

in the days of Moses

how God had brought them through the wilderness

and here they are still remembering

this event

this feast

and in their midst

and in their midst

is this one

who they were looking for

this one

who they kept missing

this one

who they couldn't see

or understand

as you read through

John 8

and even John 7

you see

Jesus caused

division

and even though he fulfills

what this festival means

they couldn't see it

they were blinded

to it

and you see that

right through

the gospel of John

how Jesus came

to his own

and his own

received him not

they couldn't understand

who it was

and so they were rejecting Jesus

many of them

but Jesus reminds them

in the midst of this festival

that they are enjoying

that he

is the very one

that they should be looking for

that he

is the light

of the world

and when we think

of the world

in which we live

with all the festivals

and even you think

of the events

in Paris

in these last few days

with the lighting

of the torch

the lamp

that will burn

and the message

that was trying

to be put across there

here is a greater message

because all these lights

of this world

all these

Olympic flames

all these festivals

that take place

all these places

with great bright lights

these lights

are going to go out

these messages

that they say

are powerful

they are going to fade

but here is the message

that will last

and here is the light

that gives life

and so as we look

at Jesus saying

I am the light

of the world

I want us to see it

in three ways

here this evening

first of all

just looking at the festival

itself

and what it meant

then we see

the fulfillment

and then thirdly

we will see

the focus

that that gives

so we want to think

first of all

of the festival

in order to understand

what Jesus is saying

in verse 12

we have to see it

in its context

we have to understand

where Jesus is

and the occasion

that he is speaking into

and it was an occasion

that was alongside

the day of atonement

one of the big occasions

in the Jewish calendar

and still is

to this day

it was a time

of remembering

what God had done

so it was significant

it was important

and it brought

many people

together

and it has been

remembered

since the days

of Moses

when you go back

to Leviticus

which outlines

many of the festivals

that the people had

Leviticus chapter 23

verse 33 to 46

it tells us

about this festival

of booths

this festival

of tabernacles

it was a festival

that took place

once a year

at the end

of harvest time

around September

or October

and the people

were to cease

from work

and they were to

cease for a week

and come

and gather together

and bring offerings

to God

during this week

they were to live

in tents

as I said

because this

reminded them

of how the children

of Israel

had to live

in tents

during their

exodus years

and so they were

looking back

and remembering

and giving thanks

to God

the instructions

were there

for them

as outlined

in Leviticus

but as with

many things

as with many

instructions

things could start

to wane

over time

and the focus

could start

to be lost

and so they would

spend this week

in celebration

and as we're

reading here

in Jesus' day

in Jerusalem

at this time

the festival

was going on

this festival

of booths

the opening

verses

in verse

chapter 7

speak of this

now Jesus

went about

Galilee

he would go

about in Judea

because the Jews

were seeking

to kill him

now the Jews

feast of booths

was at hand

so there was

this feast

that was taking

place

that many people

were going

to

and Jesus

didn't go there

straight away

he held back

for a few

days

but the temple

where this feast

was taking

place

was decorated

and lined

out with

lights

of all

kinds

the courtyard

of the temple

had no roof

and in the courtyard

you see in verse

20 it says

where Jesus

was speaking

to them

he spoke

in the treasury

as he taught

in the temple

he was speaking

in this place

where offerings

were made

a place

that was open

to the sky

and there were

all these lights

hundreds

maybe even

thousands

of candle lights

all around

but in the temple

were these

four large

pillars

and on these

pillars

were set

four large

torches

that burnt

burning oil

for the duration

of the festival

and this light

was seen

by all

especially

especially

at night

and if you

were traveling

to Jerusalem

or leaving

Jerusalem

this light

was in the

night sky

all the time

it was there

for all

to see

it lit up

the whole

courtyard

of the temple

they were in

the midst

of this light

these huge

torches

were burning

that's why

it brings

to mind

the idea

of the Olympic

Games

and the torch

burning

for the whole

time

of the

Olympic Games

being on

it's lit

and it burns

for the duration

does not bring

even more

significance

when we think

of the message

of this week

of the mocking

of Christ

of the ridiculing

of the Christian

faith

that in the

midst of

this light

ceremony

there's this

mocking

of Christ

and here

we are

tonight

we look

at this

passage

and what

does it

say to

us

here in

Jerusalem

in Jesus'

day

was this

festival

going on

where people

were mocking

Jesus

ridiculing

Jesus

not long

before Jesus

would be put

to death

it's a reminder

to us

that generation

after generation

people will

ridicule

and mock

Christ

and yet

in the midst

of this

festival

just as it's

about to

come to a

close

you see

that Jesus

speaks here

in the last

day of the

festival

in verse 37

of chapter 7

it says

on the last

day of the

feast

the great

day

Jesus

stood up

and cried

out

he was

speaking to

them here

on the

last day

of this

event

and it's

at this

point

when things

are coming

to a

conclusion

when all

the lights

are about

to go

out

when darkness

is about

to come

once again

that Jesus

then speaks

these words

on the last

day of the

feast

he says

as we see

in verse 12

I am the

light

of the

world

whoever

follows me

will not

walk in

darkness

but will

have the

light

of life

how

significant

this is

when their

festival

is coming

to a close

when these

great lights

are about

to go

out

Jesus

says

I am

the light

of the

world

and we

think of

festivals

today

think of

music

festivals

sporting

festivals

when they

come to

an end

what's

left

nothing

but empty

fields

muddy

fields

cast off

rubbish

everything

comes to

an end

the noise

dies down

the lights

go out

it's been

enjoyed

for a

time

but just

a short

time

and what

then

silence

and

darkness

it's a bit

like what was

happening

here

this festival

coming

to a

close

but

Jesus

speaks

I am

the light

of the

world

everything

that would

give

enjoyment

to us

everything

that this

world

seeks

pleasure

in

apart

from

Christ

it

comes

to

an

end

the

festival

closes

the

darkness

comes

the light

goes

out

but do

we hear

the voice

of Jesus

I am

the light

of the

world

he is

the one

who is

to be

seen

who is

to be

looked

at

who is

to be

known

so this

festival

this festival

that had been

going on

for generations

is happening

in Jesus

his own

day

and yet

they don't

recognize

they don't

recognize

who he

is

and for

ourselves

today

when we

think of

the world

in which

we live

the world

of confusion

and chaos

the world

of mixed

messages

and wrong

messages

here is

Jesus

still saying

today

I am

the light

of the

world

why will

you walk

in darkness

when you

have the

light

of life

in me

so the

festival

is there

for us

to see

but then

we see

secondly

the

fulfillment

if Jesus

is standing

and saying

I am

the light

of the

world

he is

making

such a

powerful

statement

a statement

that divides

the people

the Pharisees

they question

him and

deny him

they are

turned against

him

they want

to arrest

him

but his

hour has

not yet

come

as it

says

in verse

20

but they are

out to get

him

but what does

he mean

what is he

saying to

them

well we

need to

understand

that as

well that

he is

the

fulfillment

of all

these

things

if we

we are

being told

just like

they are

being told

there is

more to

life than

these

festivals

and there is

more to

life than

these times

when there is

these powerful

lights that

will eventually

go out

and Jesus

is saying

but I am

the light

of the

world

well what

does he

mean

what can

we hold

on to

that Jesus

has

well if

you think

of somebody

offering you

something in

this world

you want to

know it

can be

trusted

you want

to know

that it

will last

if you think

of someone

selling you

a product

how do you

respond

you go to

buy a car

you don't

just say

I'll take

it

you want

to have

a look

at it

you want

to see

it

you want

to test

drive

it

you want

to find

out

it's

history

make sure

that everything

is in

order

about it

same

with any

piece

of equipment

you buy

you want

to make

sure

that it's

working

and it

will do

the job

before you

buy something

you can spend

a lot of

time researching

it

check the

reviews

hear what

other people

are saying

other people

who have

had it

or have

the same

kind

you want

to see

what they

think

of it

would they

recommend

it

what about

the Christian

faith

Jesus is

saying

I am

the light

of the

world

how do

you take

that

how did

they take

that

in his

day

many

rejected

but you

see in

verse 30

as he

was saying

these things

many

believed

in him

and it's

so often

on the

testimony

of others

that we

can see

the reasons

that we

can believe

the people

were looking

for a

coming

Messiah

but the

Jews

today

they're

still

looking

for that

Messiah

to come

the promised

one

who would

be

their hope

and salvation

and you

see it

earlier in

the gospel

of John

in chapter

4

when the

woman at

the well

meets

with Jesus

she's

conversing

with Jesus

and she

says

I know

that Messiah

is coming

he who is

called

Christ

when he

comes

he will

tell us

all things

and what

was Jesus'

response

to her

I

who speak

to you

am he

and she

went

to tell

others

and they

believed

not just

on her

testimony

but on

the testimony

of hearing

Jesus

speaking

and you

see when

you look

to this

light

of the

world

it's

not some

kind of

dodgy

deal

it's

not

something

that's

going

to fail

you

when they

were looking

even to

this

festival

and remembering

what God

had done

they were

remembering

the very

fact

that

God

had been

faithful

to them

that he

had taken

them

through

the wilderness

that in

the pillar

of fire

and the

pillar of

smoke

that he

had

protected

them

and that

he had

led

them

along

the way

he would

supply

them

with

every

need

they

already

knew

that

God

could

be

faithful

that

God

was

faithful

but they

couldn't

understand

that this

was

the

Christ

and for

ourselves

as we

look back

here we

have

a

fulfillment

that we

see in

Christ

when we

see all

that he

has done

when you

think of

the prophecies

other prophecies

in the Old

Testament

such as Isaiah

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9

a famous

prophecy of the

coming of the

saviour

what does it

say there

it says

the people

who walked

in darkness

have seen

a great

light

those who

dwelt in

the land

of deep

darkness

on them

has light

shined

I say

again

showing

the saviour

who would

come

that promise

fulfilled

even when you

come into the

New Testament

you see it

in John's

own gospel

again

it reminds

us of

the way

the people

would reject

in John 1

John 1:4

verse 4

when we read

of the word

that became

flesh

and dwelt

among us

it says

in him

was life

and the

life was

the light

of men

the light

shines in

the darkness

and the

darkness

has not

overcome

it

there is

Jesus

fulfilling

the Old

Testament

prophecy

the light

shines in

the darkness

and the

darkness

has not

overcome

it

it goes

on in

verse 14

where these

words

the word

became

flesh

and dwelt

among us

and we

have seen

his glory

glory

as of

the only

son

from the

father

full

of grace

and truth

the fulfillment

of the one

that they were

looking for

he is here

he is the

one

who is the

light

of the

world

there were

actually

two great

statements

that Jesus

made

at this

festival

the second

one is

I am the

light of

the world

but if you

go back

into

chapter

7

verse 37

he says

there as

well

on the

last day

of the

feast

the great

day

Jesus

stood up

and cried

out

if anyone

thirsts

let him

come to

me and

drink

whoever

believes

in me

as the

scripture

has said

out of

his heart

will flow

rivers

of living

water

and this

tied in

with another

aspect of

this

festival

it was

a festival

of the

drawing

of water

as well

water

was such

a big

part of

this

festival

of booths

over the

course of

the week

light

and water

were two

important

parts of

it

and here

Jesus is

saying that

he will

quench

their thirst

and he

will shine

into

their

darkness

these

are the

words

of

Jesus

as the

festival

is coming

to a

close

and the

people are

thinking

how do we

go on

where do

we go

when this

comes to

an end

what will

satisfy

us

well you

cannot do

without

Jesus

and that

is true

for ourselves

as well

this

is what

you need

he is

saying

I

am what

you need

when you

are thirsty

in this

world

when nothing

satisfies

your thirst

I

will give

you

living

water

when you

feel lost

in this

world

when you

feel

surrounded

by darkness

in this

world

I

am the

light

of the

world

whoever

follows

me

will not

walk

in darkness

but will

have

the light

of life

and the

seriousness of

what he's

saying

is seen

in verse

21

I am

going away

and you

will seek

me

and you

will die

in your

sins

this is

the

seriousness

of it

without

me

you

are

dead

without

me

you

die

in

your

sins

and so

the challenge

to the

people

then

as to

ourselves

is that

in verse

30

many

believed

in him

and belief

so often

means

following

following

him

do you

believe

as we

were hearing

from Scott

today

and in

his

studies

in John

as well

the gospel

of John

is full

of that

question

do you

believe

do you

believe

that he

is the

light

of the

world

there is

a fulfillment

of scripture

here in

Jesus

the fulfillment

of the

festival

that the

people have

been

remembering

for so

long

here

he is

in the