The Light of the World

Let's pray. Let's pray. Let's pray.

Check testing, one, two, three. Testing, one, two, three. Test, testing, testing. Yeah, it looks great over there. All right. Let's pray. Let's pray. Let's pray.

Jesus said, "Follow me." Let's pray. We have some time together in fellowship, and we thank you for the joy that you bring us as we gather together. Be with us this morning as we sing, and as we gather together to pray and open your word and gather together around the table, I just ask that you would encourage and strengthen us. We thank you for Jesus, and we thank you for grace. It's in his name we pray. Amen. This morning we've been going, or last week and the next six weeks counting today, we are going through the statements of Jesus where he describes himself in the Gospel of John, and this morning we are talking about how Jesus is the light of the world, and so that's going to sort of be our theme through all of this. Let's go ahead and be standing. We're going to read from the 27th Psalm, just verse 1.

Alright, if you would, read with me. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? This is the word of the Lord. We are thankful that God is our light and he's our salvation, and as the psalmist goes through these questions, whom shall I fear? Whom shall I be afraid? The answer that's given in the rest of the psalm is absolutely nobody. Whether it's enemies physical or spiritual, whether it's the struggles of life, when we are in the refuge provided by the greatness of our God, there is nothing to fear. So we're going to begin by singing, "Here I am to worship," followed by, "Great are you, Lord."

"The light of the world, you step down into darkness." Open my eyes, let me see. Beauty that may this heart adore you. Hope of a life spent with you. Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely. Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful too. Altogether wonderful to me. King of all days. Oh, so highly exalted. Glorious in heaven above. Humbly you came to the earth you created. Oh, full of love. Sick became whole. Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely. Altogether worthy. Altogether worthy. Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful to me. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross. And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

To see my sin upon that cross. Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely. Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful to me. Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely. Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful to me. Altogether wonderful to me.

You give life. You are love. You bring light to the darkness. You give hope. You restore every heart that is broken. Great are you, Lord. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise. We pour out our praise. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to you only. You give life. You are loved. You bring light to the darkness. You give hope. You restore every heart that is broken. Great are you, Lord. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise. We pour out our praise. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to you only. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise. We pour out our praise. It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to you only.

All the earth will shout your praise. Our hearts will cry. These bones will sing great are you, Lord. All the earth will shout your praise. Our hearts will cry. These bones will sing great are you, Lord. It's your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise. We pour out our praise. It's your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise to you only. It's your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise. We pour out our praise. It's your breath in our lungs. So we pour out our praise to you only. You may be seated. At this point, we're dismissing the kids to Children's Church.

And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage.

I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage.

I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage.

And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage. And I want you to see what God is doing in this passage.

Before I was running one of the little boys down to the kids class we do once a month. And like sticking my head in there. And seeing these kids getting ready to learn about Jesus. You know, it's a joyful thing. And as we come to this place in our service where we remember how God brings us together. And how we are able to pray to the Father through the Son by the power of the Spirit. How God saves and brings us together as we remember Jesus. We are going to begin by singing "Mighty to Save." Everyone needs compassion. Love that's never failing. Let mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness. The kindness of the Savior. The hope of nations.

Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save. Forever, author of salvation. He rose and conquered the grave. Jesus conquered the grave. So take me as you find all my fears and failures. Fill my life again. Give my life to follow. Everything I believe in. Now I surrender. Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save. Forever, author of salvation. He rose and conquered the grave. Jesus conquered the grave. Jesus, shine a light and let the whole world see. We're singing for the glory of the risen King. Jesus, shine a light and let the whole world see. We're singing for the glory of the risen King. Savior, he can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save. Forever, author of salvation. He rose and conquered the grave. Jesus conquered the grave.

Savior, he can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save. Forever, author of salvation. He rose and conquered the grave. Jesus conquered the grave. Shine a light and let the whole world see. We're singing for the glory of the risen King. Jesus, shine a light and let the whole world see. We're singing for the glory of the risen King.

In Exodus, the 14th chapter, God has brought His people out of slavery, but they are not all the way out of Egypt yet. And we don't know exactly where they are. We have some ideas, and based on the biblical geography, as they are coming out of Egypt and they're being pursued, they come down to the Red Sea. The most likely place for them to cross is this valley, surrounded on each side by tall mountains. And in front of them is a sea of water that they cannot cross. Behind them is the Egyptian army, and they look at this in discouragement, saying, "Where should we go?" Right? We can't go forward because there's water, and we can't go to either side because of the cliffs, and we can't go backwards because there is an army ready to attack us.

And there are times in life where we find ourselves in those positions where it feels like we are surrounded on every side. And sometimes it's our first tendency to try to figure out a way out. Maybe I can climb that mountain. Maybe I can swim that ocean. Maybe I can sneak by the oncoming army. And then as we begin to think, we realize that we truly are trapped. And then for some, right, it's so easy to simply give up and say, "I can't swim across. I can't climb my way out. I can't get past the army." And in discouragement, we find ourselves looking for hope. This is where the Israelites are in Exodus 14. Listen to what Moses said. And Moses said to the people, "Fear not. Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.

For the Egyptians who you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you. You only have to be silent." And how difficult is that? To stand firm. Not trying to rush ahead in our own plans. Not trying to run and hide. Not falling to discouragement. Not trying to sneak past the army. But you stand here in a situation that seems inescapable. And Moses says, "Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you and you only have to be silent." Do you know what happens next? The sea parts. The Israelites cross through on dry land. The Egyptians try and are swallowed by the waves and their enemy is conquered. And here we come to the cross. Where we find ourselves surrounded on all sides by our sin and our brokenness and our shame. And we've tried to fix it. And we can't. We've tried to hide from it.

And we can't. We've tried to disguise it with our fig leaves of fake righteousness. We've tried to distract ourselves from our sin, and we find ourselves in a place where there seems to be no hope. And at the cross, we hear this message. Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you, have only to be silent. And the way that God fights for us is He sends His only Son, who dies in our place for our sins, and rises again for our victory. That we who were trapped on all sides by sin and death are delivered not through our strength, but by the power and the grace and the mercy of God. Father, it's easy to feel trapped in this world. It's easy to not be able to see a way forward or a way out or a way around.

And I ask, as we come to this table this morning, that you would have us stand firm and see your salvation. To know that at the cross, sin was defeated, and in the empty tomb, death was destroyed. And so I ask that you would turn our eyes to the salvation that is given in you, that you would make our weary hearts rejoice, that you would bring the strength that we so desperately need, that you would nourish our souls. I ask that you bless this bread and this cup. It's in Jesus' name we pray. You would take this bread that Jesus shared with his disciples that reminds them of the Passover, where God saved them in Egypt. Let's partake and remember how God has saved us. And if you would take this cup that Jesus shares with his disciples and remember the new covenant that has been given to his disciples.

And as we do so, we don't simply remember, but we are nourished and we proclaim the good news that there is salvation found in our God. So before we jump into John, the eighth chapter in just a minute, you sing a new song. It's kind of a new song, but not an old song. So if you've ever sung "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," this song is going to be very familiar, specifically the chorus. It begins very familiar, has a few new verses and a different chorus, but it's one that is easy to learn. We want to, as we get ready to turn our eyes toward Jesus in Scripture, we're going to go ahead and sing this together. If you don't know it, and you don't want to see it, you're welcome to just simply listen along and absorb these words. So we're going to go ahead...

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Turn your eyes to that hillside where justice and mercy embrace. There the Son of God gave His life for us, and our measureless death was erased. Jesus, to You we lift our eyes. Jesus, our glory and our Christ. We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true. Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to You.

Turn your eyes to the morning, and see Christ the Lion away. What a glorious dawn, fear of death is gone, for we carry His life in our veins. Jesus, to You we lift our eyes. Jesus, our glory and our prize. We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true. Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to You. Turn your eyes to the heavens. Our King will return for His own. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will shout. All glory to Jesus. Jesus, to you, you lift our eyes. Jesus, our glory and our prize. We adore you, behold you, our Savior ever true. Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to the Lord. We turn our eyes to you. Jesus, to you we lift our prize. Jesus, our glory and our prize. We adore you, behold you, our Savior ever true. Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you.

Oh, Jesus, we turn our eyes to you. Let's pray. Father in heaven, I thank you for the gospel. I thank you that in this moment, through your word, we can turn our eyes to you. I thank you that there is good news to see, and I ask this morning as we look to your son that you would encourage us in those desert places in our life, that you would help us to see your presence that is close to us, that we would see the promise of restoration and rebuilding, and that we would be called to repent through your word. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We are going to be in John chapter 8 in just a minute, and maybe you have had this experience. Either you personally, happening to you, or you are the one who has done it, you are watching a TV show or a movie, and you are a little ways into it, a couple episodes into the show, or a few minutes into the movie, and somebody walks in, and I personally have never done this, somebody walks in, sits down, begins watching with you, and immediately has all kinds of questions.

About what you are watching, and going, "Oh, what's happening here?" And you're like, "Well, you know, I could restart it. We can start at the beginning." They go, "Oh, no, no, no, I'll just catch up." And every time something happens, right, it's like, "Who's that? Why are they doing that? What's happening? Why is this so important?" And you find yourself sort of either frustrated with them asking you, or if you are the one asking, trying to figure out what's going on, you find yourself a little lost and confused in the midst of that. And when we come to John chapter 8, and this statement of Jesus where he says, "I am the light of the world," it's kind of like jumping in to the middle of a movie or halfway through a season of a TV show, because this wonderful statement of Jesus, that he is the light of the world,

this idea of light, is woven through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. It's one of the major themes of the Gospel of John. And not only that, Jesus is doing so at this festival of booths or the Feast of Tabernacles. It's the same thing by a different name. And you're going, "There's so much happening here." And so I think for us, the best place to start this morning is at the beginning. And so that's what what we are going to do. And so in Genesis, the very first chapter, it says this, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." And so Genesis begins with darkness and emptiness and nothing except for the

presence of God. And probably most of us know what comes next. And God said, "Let there be light." And we find that there was light and that it was good. And so God creates light in the darkness, order out of nothingness, and this is not simply just a physical light that we see. The darkness of sin in Genesis chapter 3, as man turns to their own way, you find that God steps into that darkness and gives the hope of light. And to Adam and Eve's fear and shame, God gives a promise. And as God calls Abraham out of the darkness of idolatry in the town of Ur, he brings him into the light of his truth. In the midst of the 10 plagues, one of the signs God Jesus does against the Egyptian gods is that he makes the sun go dark except where God's people are still living in the light. In the words of David in his song of joy, he says to God, "You are the light in the darkness." It's in the Psalms. We read it this morning. In the 119th Psalm, it says that the word of God is a light to my feet and a lamp to my path. And for many of us, when we think through

all of these pictures of light that sort of roll through the Old Testament, it can seem to us a little distant and a little far away. Now, I don't see myself as old. My childhood does not seem that far away. But if you were to ask my kids, and they say this unironically that Rachel and I were born in the olden days, and the ones that are a little older, not my kids, but children who are a little older will think it's funny to go, "Oh, so you were born in the late 1900s." And you go, "Oh, man." And then for some of you, you were born in the middle half of the last century. Like, for us, it doesn't seem that long and that far away. To me, my childhood in the late 1900s, the olden days, according to my childhood, it doesn't seem like it's that far away. But to them, it is a world apart.

And that can happen sometimes to us as we come to the Word of God. That it seems distant and it seems far away. And yes, God made the light and the light was good. And into the darkness brought about by our sin, He steps with the light of promises and hope. And He calls men and women into His light and promises the light and saves them with this light. But for us, it might seem distant. Let's go to another beginning. A beginning that mirrors Genesis chapter one and its words and grammar. And in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Listen to this. All things were made through Him. And without Him was not anything that was made, but made that was made. And in Him was life, and in the life was the light of men. As John begins to talk about Jesus,

He will say this. He was the true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming in to the world. And in John 1:14, "And 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." And the glorious picture in John chapter one, and there's so many as that this light has become flesh and has dwelt among us. The Word has become flesh, that Jesus has come near to us, that no longer is there this distance and separation, but Jesus has come close. So at night when we let the dogs out, it seems like the whole neighborhood's doing the same thing at the same time. And specifically our neighbor across the street, I'll be out with a flashlight because after the skunk incident of a couple years ago, you can't be too careful.

And if I see Eric across the street with his flashlight and his dog, I'll be like, "You flash my light at him," and he flashes his light back and our neighbors are all kind of wondering what's going on. That's not the picture in John chapter one of God sort of signaling us from a distance with his light, but rather stepping in next to us. The Word became flesh. And what we see as we continue is that Jesus walks with us. He eats with us, and John, he gets invited to a wedding celebration. He works himself to the place where he is so exhausted. He falls asleep, and even a raging storm can't wake him up. He loves his family, and he loves his friends. In John 11, he weeps at death like we do. The light is not distant. It comes close to us, and this is where we come to our text

this morning in John chapter 8 and verse 12. Again, Jesus spoke to them, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Now, the section that surrounds this remarkable declaration of Jesus begins in John chapter 7, and it ends in John chapter 9, and there is so much happening in these chapters. I want to talk about all of it, but I'm going to try not to. First of all, this occurs during the Feast of Booths, or the Feast of Tabernacles. This is one of three feasts that is a requirement for Jewish men to attend. There's three feasts, and of this one, this is the third one that Jewish men are required to travel to Jerusalem and to attend, oftentimes bringing their wives and their families with them. And so this is important enough that God in Deuteronomy chapter 16 says, "Where I will call you to, you're required to come." And it's important enough that God says, "You have to be here." But this is also a feast that is filled with joy and focused on the thankfulness of God's provision. And it happens at the end of the harvest, and somewhere in some places in Scripture, it's referred to as the Feast of Ingathering, right?

The harvest has been brought in. God has provided for another year. Let's gather and have a barbecue and camp out to thank Him. That's literally the Feast of Booze. You would come and you would gather branches and trees. You'd build yourself a little shelter, and you and your family would sleep outside and eat outside with your friends and family. And if there was somebody visiting, you invite them to your table. It's this feast of just joy and like a family reunion centered around the grace and the goodness of God. But it's also a picture of God's provision. One of the reasons you camp out is to remember how God has brought you through the wilderness. And by Jesus's day, there were two additions to this feast that took place in the temple. And as the feast begins, one of the things that would happen every day during this seven day feast is that the priest would go down to the pool of Siloam

and they would bring up water to great fanfare with trumpets, and they would pour it onto the altar. This picture of God providing water. And then at night, as it gets dark, and you've got to remember this is dark, dark. There's no headlights. There's no street lights. If you've ever been out far away from any kind of light pollution, it gets dark. And in the temple courtyard, they would erect these candelabras. And not just any candelabra. These were 75 feet tall. And they get some young guys who work with the priests to climb up ladders carrying oil to the top of these candelabras and light them so much that the accounts of the day said this light was so bright that it lights up every courtyard in Jerusalem. That in the temple, there is a light brought about by these candelabras

on top of this hill that is so bright that the whole city of Jerusalem lights up. And it's here in this where Jesus says, "I am the light of the world." As the lights come on these candelabras and as the light shines out of the temple and into the city of Jerusalem, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world." It's not just a simple declaration. It's wonderful because in this you see that Jesus is the light that leads us through the wilderness. We talked a little bit earlier about how as Israel leaves Egypt, they go into the wilderness and their journey was filled with uncertainty. Yes, we have all our stuff, but what are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? Where are we going to go? And one of the things that God does in Exodus, the 13th chapter.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light that they might travel by day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. And as Israel walks into the uncertainty of the wilderness, in the day there's a cloud, but at night everything gets more scary. And as they go into the uncertainty of the wilderness, at night there is a pillar of fire. And Exodus doesn't just say God throws a pillar of fire out there. God himself went before them and he did not depart from them. That the light that God brings to his people in the wilderness is one of comfort and of closeness and of directing their path.

And then Jesus in the temple at this feast that remembers the passage of God's people through the wilderness in the midst of this light goes, "I am the light, the one who led you through the wilderness." Not just a random cloud or a random pillar of fire, but in the darkness and uncertainty of the wilderness, Jesus goes before you and does not depart from you. It's interesting, Zechariah, the father of John the baptizer, will say this about the one whom his son would proclaim: "That because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." There's one who comes into our darkness and lights the way to lead us.

And the reality is that sometimes life feels like a wilderness. It's dark, and it can be scary, and it can be difficult, and here is Jesus. And He doesn't just say, "Hey, come over to me," but He comes and He leads us and He brings light. Jesus is the light that leads you through the wilderness. And as they celebrate the wilderness and the lights, what we find is that Jesus is the light that demonstrates God's nearness. The Feast of Tabernacles happens in the seventh month of the year. And in 1 Kings 8:10-11, the temple has been built, and it's been finished the year before in the eighth month, but it stays empty. And it stays empty until the seventh month. And we find this as they dedicate the temple. When the priest came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priest could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

The lights of the temple at the feast in Jerusalem, not just a reminder of God leading his people in the wilderness, but it's a picture of God's glory and his presence descending upon the temple as Solomon dedicates the temple at the Feast of Tabernacles, at the Feast of Booths. God's glory descends in the temple and here is Jesus at another Feast of Tabernacles. And as this glory of light, Jesus goes, "I am the light of the world," right? The one that has come near to you. It's a picture of closeness. I was holding somebody's baby the other day, as one does, and the baby did as babies do. So I walked over to its mom like this and goes, "Hey, here's your child that has a present for you," right? What I love about Jesus, he doesn't come

holding me at arm's length. He doesn't come going in your darkness and your shame and your brokenness. He comes near. And when Jesus declares that he is the light of the world and the glory of this beautiful light streaming from the temple, he's saying, "I'm the one who comes close to you." Jesus is also the light that promises us a new future. In Ezra chapter 3, God's people have come back out of captivity, and they've come back to a destroyed city and a destroyed temple. And as they look at this project that's in front of them, listen to what happens, and they kept the Feast of Booths. As it is written, and they offered the burnt offerings by number according to the rule as each day required. And in this moment, they come. And before they rebelled, they celebrate this feast that Jesus had.

The picture is God's leading and God's closeness. And that moment where they dedicate themselves to the rebuilding of the temple, this promise of restoration happens at the same feast that Jesus declares himself to be the light of the world. Jesus comes to rebuild and restore. In Luke chapter 4, verse 17, beginning in verse 21, "And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and he unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written." And then here's what Jesus will read from the Word of God. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor, and he has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind and to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Jesus' first sermon says, "I come to restore those who are broken and hurting and crushed and who are in darkness." And then listen to how he ends it. "And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him, and he said to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus says, "That restoration is about me, that I'm the one who puts things back together." What we find is that Jesus is the light that calls us to repentance. I love Nehemiah, the eighth chapter. And in Nehemiah, chapter eight, Nehemiah chapter seven begins with the beginning of the seventh month, the month that goes into the feast of tabernacles. And God's people have rebuilt the wall and they assemble. And Ezra the priest brings the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard in the first day of the seventh month.

And he read from it, facing the square before the water gate from early morning until midday in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand. Most of the people were attentive to the book of the law. And I want you to picture this. From early morning, you show up at church and say, "Hey, we're having church outside in the parking lot today." And from 7 a.m. till noon, we just read the Pentateuch. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy standing in the sun at the end of summer and we're joyful about it. Throughout Scripture, God's words are referred to as light, that show us where to walk, that help us to avoid the traps of sin. And here God's people in the seventh month are hearing God's word, and it immediately brings them to the place where they measure their life according to the word of God,

and say, "We're broken, and we're sinful." And they begin to sob in repentance. And this is what they will say. Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep, for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law." And he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to the Lord. Do not be grieved. The joy of the Lord is your strength." This is literally a biblical command to go barbecue, right? To eat the fat, to drink the wine, to drink the wine, to have a meal, to have joy in God. Because you have been led to repentance by the word of God.

Listen to what happens on the second day of this. And the second day the heads of the fathers' houses and all the people with the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the law. And they found it written in the law that the Lord had commanded Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month. And they proceed to obey and revival and repentance sweep through Jerusalem. All centered around this feast of booths brought about by the light of the word of God. They grieve over their sins, they are comforted, and they are brought to repentance. And then here, in John 8, the word made flesh, declaring truth in the feast of tabernacles, is calling his people to repentance.

Again, Jesus said to them, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." That I am the light that is near to you in the wilderness. I am the light of God's glory that comes close. I am the light that promises renewal and restoration, and I'm calling you to live and walk in a different way. Stop walking after yourself and follow me." And Jesus comes to those in darkness. The light, both physical and spiritual, come to bring us into his light. And so what does Jesus do? The light of the world, Jesus, steps into our darkness, so that you and I may be brought into his light. And there's this remarkable account in John chapter 9, as Jesus leaves the temple after arguing with the Pharisees,

because they don't like him saying, "I am the light of the world." And in John 9, as he is walking out, there is a man who has been born blind. And Jesus comes, he restores his sight through this sort of strange convoluted process saying, "Wash your eyes now in the pool of Siloam." The place where they've been getting water all week to remember God's provision, and this man all of a sudden can see, and instantly there's controversy. The religious leaders are going, "Who did this?" They call in the guy's parents and go, "Is he really been blind because he says Jesus healed him?" They say, "Well, you've got to talk to him." So they bring this guy in for questioning who's had his sight restored after being blind from birth. They say, "Hey, was it a sinner who healed you?" I'm trying to find out about Jesus.

Here's what this man says, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know, I was blind, and now I see that he came to me in my darkness, not holding me at arm's length. He promised he took my broken life and he restored it. He transformed my heart. And the most important thing that I know about Jesus is that he came to me in my darkness, and I was blind, and now I see it." Church, we're here to proclaim that good news. There is one who comes into our darkness proclaiming light. He comes into our wilderness, near to us. He comes to restore and to call us to a new life. And it's so easy to proclaim other things. But like this man, we are called to proclaim that Jesus came, and we were blind, but now we see.

And maybe if you are outside of Christ, you need to hear this good news. The wonderful thing about the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles, is it was for visitors, too. It was a call to come and eat at the table, and it's easy to have a lot of opinions about Jesus. What did He say? How did He say it? What does this person think, or that person? In this remarkable testimony where Jesus talks about Himself, as light floods Jerusalem, He says, "I am that light, the light that directs and converts and restore and revives and brings you to repentance." You don't know Jesus. I want you to. Whether that's asking questions or learning more deeply, praying with someone, talking with someone, I want you to see the one who comes into your darkness and brings light. Let's pray. Father, we thank You for how You have saved us.

How You are near to us in the wilderness of life. How You have brought us to a place where You encourage us and call us to repentance. Help us to bring that light to the Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We're going to stand, and we are going to sing a song we haven't sung for a while, but it's familiar to most of us, I think.

I once was lost in the darkest night, yet thought I knew the way. The sin that promised joy at night. That led me to the grave. I had no hope that you would own a rebel to your will. And if you had not loved me first, I would refuse you still. But as I ran my hell-bound race indifferent to the cross, you looked upon my helpless state and led me to the cross. And I beheld God's love displayed. You suffered in my place. You bore the wrath reserved for me. Now all I know is grace. Hallelujah. All I help is Christ. Hallelujah. Jesus is my life. Hallelujah. All I have is Christ. Hallelujah. Jesus is my life. Lord, I will be yours alone, unless all I might see the strength to follow your commands could never have come from home.

From me, O Father, use my ransom light in any way you choose. O Father, use my ransom light in any way you choose. And I let my song forever be my only boast. He is you. Hallelujah. All I have is grace. Hallelujah. Jesus is my life. Hallelujah. All I have is grace. Hallelujah. Jesus is my life. Jesus is my life. Jesus is my life. We are thankful that you are here with us this morning. A couple of quick announcements as we get ready to wrap up Wednesday night Bible study, 6 p.m. This Wednesday, we're talking about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Also, if you aren't able to pick it on Wednesday evening, next Sunday at 9:15 for that. Additionally, this coming Saturday, men's breakfast, 9 a.m., Bible, Bacon, Brotherhood. We're excited to gather together with some men, be encouraged with each other's company, with some good food, and spending some time in God's Word.

So invite your friends, invite your neighborhood, come and eat breakfast with us. Also, the Sunday, April 28th, that's two Sundays from now, we're going to do a fellowship meal directly after our morning service. So those are what is happening now. Just one more announcement. I don't think I have a slide for it. Maybe I do. I do not. Next month, our children's church is going to be moved to the first Sunday of May, because the second Sunday is Mother's Day, and so we want to have the kids together in worship with us for that, and so that is the plan. I'm going to go ahead and pray, read a verse. Father in heaven, I thank you for Jesus. Thank you for how he brings light into our darkness. We just ask that we would be the light reflecting your Son to the world in which we live in. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Paul, or the writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews chapter 13, says, "Jesus has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you,' so we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him, above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Son, and Holy Ghost, Son, and Holy Ghost, Son, and Holy Ghost.