John: Light of the World

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The Light of the World (John 8: 12-59)

The events described here occurred in the treasury area of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was speaking towards the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, an annual festival which was celebrated by the Jews. During this festival, many large lampstands were set up in the treasury area of the temple and were lit at night. It was against this background that Jesus claimed to be the light of the world.

At the end of the feast, the Jews would also take the sacred books out of the chest in which they were stored and put a lighted candle in their place. Therefore, Jesus was also claiming that He was the revealed word of God.

Questions to consider:

1) Jesus claims to be the light of the world (v12). What does it mean to walk in darkness? How can Jesus bring light into our lives?

2) How does Jesus answer the challenge of the Pharisees (vs13-18)? How does Jesus' claim that He comes from God increase the tension between Jesus and his opponents (vs19-30)?

3) What do you think the phrase “because his time had not yet come” means (v20)?

4) Jesus applies God's name to himself in v24,28,58. Did his listeners understand what he meant by doing that? Notice their reaction to his words in v59.

5) In vs31-32, Jesus claims that if we hold on to his teaching, we will know the truth and have true freedom. Why were his listeners not free (vs34-47)? Knowing God gives us true freedom to be the people we were created to be.

Notes:

v24,28 Jesus is using God's name, as revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:13-15. The Hebrew form is YHWH and means “I am who I am”. This name reveals the following facts about God:
  (a) He exists.
  (b) He owes his personality and power to no-one but himself.
  (c) He is unchanging.
  (d) He is an eternal source of energy and power.
  (e) We must conform to God, not he to us.
  (f) The good news is that this infinite and powerful God has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ, who comes actively to seek and save us.

1)	Jesus claims to be the light of the world (v12). What does it mean to walk in darkness? How can Jesus bring light into our lives?
2)	How does Jesus answer the challenge of the Pharisees (vs13-18)? How does Jesus' claim that He comes from God increase the tension between Jesus and his opponents (vs19-30)?
3)	What do you think the phrase “because his time had not yet come” means (v20)?
4)	Jesus applies God's name to himself in v24,28,58. Did his listeners understand what he meant by doing that? Notice their reaction to his words in v59.
5)	In vs31-32, Jesus claims that if we hold on to his teaching, we will know the truth and have true freedom. Why were his listeners not free (vs34-47)? Knowing God gives us true freedom to be the people we were created to be.