I try to picture the scene as if I were there in person. The Feast of Tabernacles, one of the biggest celebrations on the Jewish calendar, has been going on for the past week. Jewish people from all over the world have come to Jerusalem to live in temporary shelters and celebrate this occasion.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a time for the Jewish people to remember their ancestors when they wandered in the wilderness (see more details here). The ceremony of water commemorated God’s miraculous provision of water throughout the years of desert wanderings. This feast also looked forward to the Kingdom of the Messiah, when God would again personally lead his people and provide for their needs.
But the Feast of Tabernacles also celebrated the light of the Messiah. God had personally led their ancestors through the desert in a cloud by day and a fire by night. Four giant candelabra in the temple courts (more like giant torches) were lit during the feast, illuminating the entire city of Jerusalem.
But now the feast had ended and people were preparing to leave. The four giant candelabra — no longer burning — stood as silent reminders of the great celebration. As the people look on, Jesus walks by these great candelabra and speaks to the crowd,
“I am the light of the world.”
But he does not stop there:
“Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
To roughly translate this, He was saying, “These giant torches that you see are now finished. But I am the real light and I will never go out. Follow me and I will give you light and I will give you life.”
Jesus also uses the Hebrew name of God, “I AM”. He actually refers to himself as “I AM” several times in this passage:
- “I AM the light of the world”
- “Unless you believe that I AM you will die in your sins”
- “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM”
This chapter is very direct, very specific, and very confrontational. Jesus gives the command to “Follow Me” four times in this chapter (John 8). Each time he repeats the command, he makes it more specific and he receives increasingly hostile responses. In each of these four commands, Jesus also gives a motivation for following him:
- “Follow Me” (John 8:12-20)
- “Believe that I AM” (John 8:21-30)
- “Abide in my word” (John 8:31-47)
- “Keep my word” (John 8:48-59)
We go through the first two commands in this study and will cover the second two commands in the next study.
“Follow Me”
In the statement above, Jesus said that he is the light of the world. Jesus is the God that the Jews claim to worship, and he offers the light of life to all who follow him. The Pharisees interjected with, “Who are you to speak like that?” Jesus responded that he was sent by God the Father, and they do not know the Father if they do not know him.
Believe that I AM”
Again, Jesus referred to himself as the Hebrew name of God, “I AM”. This time he was very direct to the people: “Unless you believe that I AM” you will die in your sins. You can either believe Jesus or reject him. But if you refuse to believe Jesus you will face an eternity separated from God. The people reply with, “Who do you think you are?” Jesus responded that he speaks the truth that was given to him from the Father who sent him. When they see the Son of Man lifted up (on the cross), then they will know that “I AM”.
Remember!
Things to remember from this study:
- If you are waiting to believe in Jesus, you are running out of time! He is the light of the world who will give you life. But if you refuse to believe, you will die separated from God.
- If you do believe in Jesus, follow him! Let Him be your counselor, your guide, and your illumination.
- Jesus always appealed to the Father in these times of conflict. You have a higher authority and you are not alone!
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