[2026. 3. 22.] I Am the Light of the World | John 8:12–20

[2026. 3. 22.] I Am the Light of the World | John 8:12–20

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 3. 22. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 25
본문: 요한복음 8:12-20
제목: 나는 세상의 빛이니

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

The Gospel of John contains seven “Ego Eimi” (Gk. ἐγώ εἰμι) statements—Jesus’ declarations of His own identity, “I AM.” Last time, in John 6:35, we encountered the first “Ego Eimi.” What was it? [John 6:35] Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
“I am the bread of life.”

Today we come to the second “Ego Eimi.” [v.12] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Greek) “Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου” (Ego eimi to phōs tou kosmou)

Understanding the background of when Jesus made this declaration helps us grasp His words more deeply.

John chapters 7 and 8 record events that took place during the Feast of Tabernacles. Previously, Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from within them,” and we noted that this referred to the waterdrawing ceremony in which water from the Pool of Siloam was poured out on the temple altar during the feast.

Another major ceremony during the Feast of Tabernacles was the illumination ceremony. (Image of the illumination ceremony) During the feast, four enormous golden lampstands—each about 50 cubits high, roughly 22–23 meters—were set up in the Court of the Women. Each lampstand held four large bowls. Priests climbed long ladders to fill all sixteen bowls with oil and used wicks made from worn-out priestly garments to light them. The temple was brilliantly illuminated as a symbol of light coming from what is holy.

Every evening during the feast, after sunset, these lamps were lit. Their brightness was so great that, according to traditional records, “there was no courtyard in Jerusalem that was not lit by their light.” Under this light, the Jews danced throughout the night, remembering the grace of the pillar of fire that guided Israel in the wilderness. But on the eighth day—the great assembly day (Shemini Atzeret)—just as the waterpouring ceremony ceased, the lamps were no longer lit.

When the feast ended and the brilliant light that illuminated the temple each night disappeared, Jesus declared in the midst of the darkness: “I am the light of the world.”

This declaration means: “I am the very pillar of fire that protected you from the cold of the wilderness night and guided you. The true light that leads you is not the temple lamps—it is Me.”

Through today’s passage, I want us to consider what kind of light Jesus is as the Light of the World.

 

1. Jesus is the Light of Life who shines into the darkness.

[v.12] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus declares that He is the light of the world. Here, “world” (Gk. kosmos) does not simply mean the earth but the entire order of darkness that has turned away from God. In Scripture, darkness symbolizes sin, death, falsehood, spiritual ignorance, and the world.

Light drives out this darkness. The Lord who came as the Light of the World frees us from living as slaves to sin. He liberates us from the power of death. He gives us eternal life instead of death, delivers us from spiritual ignorance into the knowledge of truth, and leads us to live not for this world but for the eternal kingdom of God.

Are you still in darkness? Come today to Jesus, the Light of the World who shines into the darkness.

Jesus also says that those who follow Him will have the light of life. The “light of life” is not merely a light that illuminates a path—it is the light that creates and sustains life. Darkness is connected to death; light is connected to life.

New Zealand is a truly beautiful country. I immigrated here on March 1, 1995, and I still remember looking up at the sky when I arrived at Christchurch Airport. How could the sky be so clear, bright, and blue? It was astonishing. Yet over time I learned that New Zealand has a far higher rate of depression than the global average. Worldwide, about 4–6% of the population suffers from depression, but in New Zealand, about 35% experience depression or anxiety, and around 14% suffer from severe mental illness. In winter, the numbers can increase up to threefold. One major reason is the lack of sunlight due to frequent rain and cloudy days. Reduced sunlight lowers serotonin—the “happiness hormone”—causes vitamin D deficiency, disrupts sleep rhythms, and decreases physical activity.

These statistics show how essential light is to human life. But the Light of Life is far more than sunlight. The Light of Life is more fundamental than the sun itself. He is the true light who shines into and revives our lives, which have been trapped in existential darkness because of sin.

This is described in detail in John 1. [John 1:4–5] In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This light is the very Word—God Himself—who created the world. He came into the world in human flesh, yet the astonishing and tragic reality is that the very people who were created through Him did not receive Him. [John 1:11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Anyone who does not receive Jesus—the true Light and the Light of Life—remains trapped in darkness. John Calvin said, “The human heart remains in darkness unless it is illuminated by the light of God.”

What is the secret to walking in the Light of Life and enjoying that light? It is found in verse 12. [v.12] Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

The key is following the Lord. The verb “follow” is in the imperfect tense, indicating continuous, repeated action—not following once, but following continually. As we follow Jesus continuously and repeatedly, we do not remain in the darkness of sin, we do not fall into the valley of death, we are not bound by falsehood and confusion, and we receive and enjoy true life.

[Application] Is there any area of my life that still remains in darkness? What hardness of heart within me is resisting the light?

 

2. Jesus is the Light of Truth.

The Pharisees immediately challenge Jesus’ declaration. [v.13] The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

Why did they say this? According to Jewish law, a testimony required at least two witnesses. A person could not testify on his own behalf. 

But Jesus responds with a surprising statement. [v.14] Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.”

Jesus says His testimony is valid even if He testifies about Himself—seemingly contradicting Jewish law. What does this mean? It means, “I am the exception.” Jesus can be the exception because He is not merely human—He is the Son of God who came in human form. Jesus knew that He came from heaven and that He was going toward the cross, but the Pharisees, who were in spiritual darkness, did not know His identity or His mission.

Jesus then presents a second witness who testifies about Him. Who is it? [v.18] “I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

God the Father, who sent Jesus, testifies about Him. Nothing could be more certain. God’s own testimony is the most reliable testimony.

What happened when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River? [Matthew 3:16–17] As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

God Himself declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus’ identity is not determined by human judgment or religious standards—it is confirmed by the testimony of God the Father. Truth is not determined by people or religion.

[John 14:6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Who can judge or determine truth? Truth can only be testified to by Jesus—the Truth Himself—and by God. So Jesus says to the Pharisees: [v.15] “You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.”

The Pharisees judged by outward appearance, rules, religious reputation, and human standards. But Jesus did not come to judge or condemn based on such things—He came to shine the light of truth and set people free. [John 8:32] “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

[Application] Am I living according to truth, or am I driven by people’s opinions and approval? Is there any area of my life that is still bound and not free?

 

3. Jesus is the revelatory light who makes God known.

[v.19] Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

When Jesus said that the Father testifies about Him, the Pharisees asked, “Where is your father?” This was not a sincere question—they were attacking Jesus’ identity.

Jesus answers, “You do not know me or my Father.”

The word “know” here is the Greek ginōskō, which means not merely intellectual knowledge but relational, experiential knowledge. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are relationally and experientially one—a perfect community at the center of the kingdom of God. Jesus is establishing that same kind of community on earth—that is the church and the kingdom of God established in this world.

Dear believers, do you know God? How do you know Him? What is the only way finite humans can know the invisible God? God must reveal Himself to us. This is called revelation.

Jesus came to this world for two reasons: to save humanity and to make God known. The invisible God took on visible flesh—that is Jesus. So Jesus says: [John 14:9] Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Jesus says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” In today’s passage He says, “If you know me, you know the Father.” 

Do you know God? How do you know Him? Through Jesus.

“Pastor, but we cannot see Jesus now. How can we see or know Him?” Jesus still meets us every day, every moment, in two ways.

First, He meets us through the written Word. Jesus is the Word of God. All Scripture testifies about Him. [John 5:39] You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.

Second, Jesus meets us through His Spirit who dwells within us. Scripture refers to the Spirit of God as the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of the Son. [Romans 8:9] And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. [Galatians 4:6] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts…

Is the Holy Spirit dwelling in you? Such a person is a believer, a child of God. If the Spirit dwells in you, Jesus dwells in you by His Spirit. And what does Jesus do within us? He reveals even the deep things of God. [1 Corinthians 2:10–12] The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God… We have received the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Believe that Jesus is the Light who reveals God’s character, love, heart, will, and plans to us.

Do you know God? Augustine famously said, “The knowledge of God is the greatest knowledge a human being can attain.” If you desire to know God, know Jesus. Believe and receive Him as your God, your Savior, and your Lord. Then Christ will dwell in you, reveal the deep things of God to you, transform your life according to God’s will and plan, and lead you. May you all receive and enjoy such grace and blessing.

[Application] Am I growing in my knowledge of God through Jesus? How is the knowledge of God practically shaping my daily life and decisions?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.