How to Overcome Darkness by Following the Light of the World [Encore]

Light versus darkness. Good versus evil The good guys versus the bad guys. The age-old theme has been on stage since the opening act of Eden. I mean what more can be said that hasn’t already been written, talked about, or had movies made out of? The theme goes back to the no-contest conflict between the Most High God and Satan. There must be something to it because Jesus puts the spotlight on it yet again in John eight. How to Overcome Darkness by Following the Light of the World, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.
This weeks call is:

By their very nature, light and darkness do not mix. So, what does it say about commitment to Jesus? Well if Jesus is light and you cannot mix light and darkness than you cannot dilute your dedication to all things light with anything of the world. Where Jesus is concerned, either you are all in, or you are out. Are you all in?

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Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believers life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).
This week’s question is:

How has the dedication of being a Jesus disciple changed your life? Share your story of commitment in the comments section below.

Episode Resources

You can find additional information on the subject of John’s Gospel in the resources listed below.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Overcoming Darkness: Jesus Said I Am the Light of the World

John 8:12 (ESV) — 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.”

The scene again is the back-end of the Feast of Tabernacles.
We know that from John 8:20.
On the last day of the feast Jesus, knowing what the Jews were doing in pouring water at altar drawn from the Pool of Siloam, declares that He is the thirst-quencher.
It’s not Gatorade brother; it’s Jesus.
“Partake of me,” Jesus said, “and you will never thirst again.”
But if you remember from a previous podcast, they also lit candles at the Feast of Tabernacles.
These same oil-based candles are the backdrop for Jesus statements in John eight.
As they were lighting the candles, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
While the wicks let off their smoke, Jesus continued, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.”
With that thought, here’s the Historical Background of the Day.”

Ancient Civilizations and the Concept of Light and Overcoming Darkness

Jesus brought to the forefront of the ancient battle between light and darkness in John 8:12.
I say ‘ancient’ because civilizations even before Abraham spoke of the dynamic of light and darkness.
From Adam to Abraham is about 2000 years: generations which include, Cain and Abel, the Tower of Babel, the Giants, Noah, the Ark, and the Flood.
Historians have found some ‘light and dark’ references in the writings from ancient civilizations that fall date wise between Adam and Abraham, for example, like the region of Sumer in Mesopotamia.

Sumer in Mesopotamia

Sumer includes five geographical areas among them Ur, Abraham’s original home.
They had a concept of light and darkness that connected to the sun.

In the ancient Near East, particularly in Sumer, light was fundamentally connected to life because of the sun’s role in maintaining biological life, and darkness was seen as that which threatens life.¹

Egypt

Ancient Egypt, before Abraham, had it’s ‘light and darkness’ theme represented in the little ‘g’ sun god named Ra.
Of the over 2000 little ‘g’ gods of Egypt, Ra was top dog.
But when God struck down Egypt with ten plagues, one of them being darkness, that put Ra right where he belonged, at the feet of the Most High God.
Now some have supposed that since ancient civilizations had a ‘light and darkness’ concept that it would imply that the writers of the Old Testament copied this theme from them.
Now, that type of thinking is full of gashes leaking water because of that passage in Romans one.

Romans 1:19–20 (ESV) — 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

So, you see before God ever called Abraham out of Ur to make a nation of priests that would be a witness to the nations, God was already dealing with these ancient people.
When they meditated on the brightness of the sun in the sky and the darkness of the evening at night, there was something gnawing at them that all that they were seeing must have some kind of ‘out of this world’ origin.
They needed more light than the light they were seeing in the sun.
But, they had the inklings that what was light was good and what was dark was bad.
Jesus now puts all of that in right alignment in John 8:12.

Bible Background: Light of the World

The Jews applied the title “Light of the World” to everybody.

Contemporary Judaism applied the phrase “light of the world” not only to God but also to Israel, Jerusalem, the patriarchs, famous rabbis (e.g., Yo?anan ben Zakkai), the Torah, the temple, and even Adam, as well as the Messiah.²

Jesus steps up on the last day of the Feast and says, “You fella’s have it all wrong, neither the Torah nor the Temple is the Light of the World, I AM.”
Where did He get that from?
How about Isaiah 49?

Overcoming Darkness: The Light of the World Called from the Womb

Isaiah 49:1 (ESV) — 1 Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.

Who did the Lord call from their womb and gave Him His name?
The answer to that is the Messiah.
This chapter of Isaiah is a chapter prophesying facts about the Messiah.

Overcoming Darkness: The Teaching Ministry of the Light of the World

Isaiah 49:2 (ESV) — 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.

Verse two gives us the next Messiah fact: that of the Word of God as the Messiah’s primary tool to in His ministry.
And, you know that’s very true: Jesus went about all the villages teaching.
Jesus teaching ministry is more prominent than His healing ministry.
And, He had a healing ministry unparalleled in the annuals of the earth.

Israel and the Light of the World

Isaiah 49:3 (ESV) — 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

The verse states that the Messiah will be called by the name Israel.
What does that mean?
What the Lord is saying is that His Servant, the Messiah will perform the function that Israel should have performed, that is to be a light to the Gentiles.
That light reference is coming up here in a couple more verses.

Overcoming Darkness: Are You Standing Against Discouragement?

Isaiah 49:4 (ESV) — 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.”

Jesus was tempted to feel at times that His labor, at times, was in vain, that He spent His strength for nothing, that it was all vanity.
Paul felt this same way also.

Philippians 2:16 (ESV) — 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Now, we can understand how Paul felt this way because you and I have felt this way.
We have felt that way with intensity.
It was a ‘wow’ moment for me to know that my Jesus experienced this particular temptation.
It shouldn’t have been ‘a wow moment’ when Hebrews four states Jesus ‘earth-walk’ experience out loud.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) — 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

So be encouraged, Jesus knew the face of discouragement, but He didn’t yield to it.
He was without sin.

The Light of the World Formed from the Womb

Isaiah 49:5 (ESV) — 5 And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—

So, verse five is proof positive, that since God’s servant, the Messiah, brings back Israel that they can’t be the same.
Now, we come to verse six, the verse we’ve been trying to get to.

Isaiah 49:6 (ESV) — 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Overcoming Darkness: Jesus as The Light of the World, Isaiah 49

So here is a prophecy that shows the Messiah, the servant of Isaiah, as a light for the nations.
So, now that should open your understanding to what Jesus is saying when He stands up and says, “I am light of the world.”
He is fulfilling prophecy.
Now, look at the purpose that God the Father had for Jesus being the light of the world.
He intended that salvation would reach the end of the earth.
In other words, God would not only bring Israel back, but His salvation would extend to all the Gentile nations on the planet.
Another thing you should get from Jesus ‘I am’ statement is the narrowing of choice.
He is the main focus of salvation.
Jesus is THE Light of the world.
It’s not what you believe about God that counts; it is what you believe about Jesus.
Many religions of the world believe in God.
So does the devil, the Bible says.

James 2:19 (ESV) — 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

So, the way to glory is more than believing in God.
Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Who is Jesus to you?
Is He one choice of many to you or is He ‘your light,’ is He your way?

The L Train: Light, Life, and Logos

Now, some other spirit realities link to light.
Logos, the written Word, links to light and L-I-F-E links to light.
The three, light, life and logos, form the gospel version of the Three Musketeers.
You remember hearing Jesus say in John 8:12, that there are two by-products of following Him.
One, you will not walk in darkness.
I’m telling you, you don’t want any of that darkness mess because Darkness is a mess and it will leave your life that way.
The second thing you will have following Jesus is, and listen to the words, the ‘light of life.’
What is the light of life?
You can say that phrase this way; you can have the ‘light the produces life.’
Consider the following scriptures on ‘light and life.’

Light and Life Linked in Scripture

Psalm 56:13 (ESV) — 13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Job 33:30 (ESV) — 30 to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life.

So, how do these three spirit realities, light, life, and logos, connect?
Well, think of these three components as three box cars on a train.
Let’s call this train the ‘L Train,’ you know light, life, and logos.
In what order do these box cars connect?
Well, the lead car is always Logos, the Word.
In every case, the Word of God comes first: it stands at the head of the ‘L Train.’
But, for that written Word, that logos to become real, to do its job in your life, it must enter your heart.
The Word floating in your head doesn’t do much good.
There’s too much other stuff floating around up there.
The heart is the proper environment for the Word.
Psalm 119 says it as best as you can say it.

Psalm 119:130 (NKJV) — 130 The entrance of your words give light; It gives understanding to the simple.

Definition of the Day

The Hebrew word ‘entrance’ is the one you want to look at and with that thought here’s the definition of the day.
The word ‘entrance’ means to unfold.
The unfolding of the Word brings light.
You can also translate the Hebrew word ‘entrance’ as ‘opening.’
The opening of the Word gives light.
The Holy Spirit works on all cars of the ‘L Train.’
He inspired the recording of the Logos, and He is the one who unveils the written Word to your heart.
The Apostle Paul told us to pray for this very action to occur in our walk.

Ephesians 1:16–18 (NKJV) — 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

‘The eyes of your understanding’ is Paul’s way of saying ‘the heart.’
Your heart must receive enlightenment.
Illumination is another way of saying it.
You need a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.
The word ‘revelation’ here in Ephesians 1:18 and the word ‘unfolding’ in Psalm 119:130 is the same concept; just one is Hebrew and the other Greek.
So, the first car is logos, and the second car is a revelation that produces light.

Life: The Final Car

And now that brings us to the final car in the ‘L Train,’ life.
The by-product of your heart lighting up with the revelation of God is life.
That’s real-life not pusedo life, not faux life, not life as some people define it in commercials.
You know, ‘Come and visit so and so place because you will really be living it up.’
Fake life is breathing but yet dying all along because your insides are dead.
That’s not life.
Some people think doing the partying scene is real life.
That’s not life either.
And then others are braking their neck trying to accumulate.
Hey, that’s not life either.
Life is not stuff; Jesus said as much.

Luke 12:15 (NKJV) — 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

God’s light on His written logos produces God’s life.
So, God’s light produced from the Word provides a quality of life known as ‘Zoe,’ or the God Kind of Life.

Light, Life, and Logos in John’s Gospel

Light teams up with its cohorts logos, and life in John one.

John 1:1–4 (ESV) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

If you don’t care for the Musketeers or the ‘L Train’ analogy, that’s fine, just remember that everything starts with God.

Genesis 1:1 (ESV) — 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

In the beginning, Logos created.
He was with God and was God at the same time.
Everything always starts with Logos.
From that Logos came created light.

Genesis 1:3 (ESV) — 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Out of that light comes life.

Genesis 1:11 (ESV) — 11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so.

Light, Life, and Logos all come to bear in Jesus statement in John 8:12.

Overcoming Darkness: Light of the World References in John

Jesus referenced this ‘Light’ rhetoric three more times in John’s gospel.

John 9:5 (ESV) — 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 12:35–36 (ESV) — 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

John 12:46 (ESV) — 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Light is spiritual; it is symbolic.
Light is often used in Scripture to symbolize the presence of God.

The Hiding Place of God’s Power Overcomes Darkness

Habakkuk 3:4 (GW) — 4 His brightness is like the sunlight. Rays of light stream from his hand. That is where his power is hidden.

The scripture says light shines out of the Most High’s hand.
Star Wars has nothing on God.
It pours forth from His face too with such an intensity that no one can ever see it and live.
You can get a sense of the intensity of the light of His Presence by looking at the following verse in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 21:23 (ESV) — 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Megawatt glorified power coming forth from

Isaiah 60:19–20 (ESV) — 19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

1 Timothy 6:15–16 (ESV) — 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Overcoming Darkness: Committing to the Light of the World

Following the light of the world means that the world is in total darkness.
Think about what this means for your commitment to Jesus.

If Jesus is the light, walking “in the light” is a description of discipleship (1:7).³

You see, light and darkness are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum.
No shades of grey exist between the two realms.
By their very nature, they are opposite; they are in opposition: no similarities – nothing in common.
You cannot mix the two.
So, what does it say about commitment to Jesus?
Well if Jesus is light and you cannot mix light and darkness than you cannot dilute your commitment to all things light with anything of the world.
Where Jesus is concerned, either you are all in, or you are out.

Why Doing the Word of God Is The Ticket to Success

References:

Judith A. Odor, “Light and Darkness,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016). ↩
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: John, Acts., vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 82. ↩
Gary M. Burge, John, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 256. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

How to Overcome Darkness by Following the Light of the World [Encore]

Podcast: Light on Life Season 7 Episode 10

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click Play to Listen | Right Click to Download | Subscribe in Stitcher Radio

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

How has the dedication of being a Jesus disciple changed your life? Share your story of commitment in the comments section below.

Episode Resources

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Stitcher Radio Google Play

iTunes

Overcoming Darkness: Jesus Said I Am the Light of the World

Ancient Civilizations and the Concept of Light and Overcoming Darkness

Sumer in Mesopotamia

Egypt

Bible Background: Light of the World

Overcoming Darkness: The Light of the World Called from the Womb

Overcoming Darkness: The Teaching Ministry of the Light of the World

Israel and the Light of the World

Overcoming Darkness: Are You Standing Against Discouragement?

The Light of the World Formed from the Womb

Overcoming Darkness: Jesus as The Light of the World, Isaiah 49

The L Train: Light, Life, and Logos

Light and Life Linked in Scripture

Definition of the Day

Life: The Final Car

Light, Life, and Logos in John’s Gospel

Overcoming Darkness: Light of the World References in John

The Hiding Place of God’s Power Overcomes Darkness

Listen to the Audio

Click Play to Listen | Right Click to Download | Subscribe in Stitcher Radio

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

How has the dedication of being a Jesus disciple changed your life? Share your story of commitment in the comments section below.

Episode Resources

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Stitcher Radio Google Play

iTunes

Overcoming Darkness: Jesus Said I Am the Light of the World

Ancient Civilizations and the Concept of Light and Overcoming Darkness

Sumer in Mesopotamia

Egypt

Bible Background: Light of the World

Overcoming Darkness: The Light of the World Called from the Womb

Overcoming Darkness: The Teaching Ministry of the Light of the World

Israel and the Light of the World

Overcoming Darkness: Are You Standing Against Discouragement?

The Light of the World Formed from the Womb

Overcoming Darkness: Jesus as The Light of the World, Isaiah 49

The L Train: Light, Life, and Logos

Light and Life Linked in Scripture

Definition of the Day

Life: The Final Car

Light, Life, and Logos in John’s Gospel

Overcoming Darkness: Light of the World References in John

The Hiding Place of God’s Power Overcomes Darkness

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