The Use of the Word “Light” in the Gospel of John

 Light

(Word search) 

24 times in John

John 1:4-9

In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He comes as a witness to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 3:19-21

And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

John 5:35

In the  7 witness, John the Baptist was considered a light

John 8:12

I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life.

John 9:5 

As long as I am in the world, 

I am the light of the world.

(John 9:39-41) 

John 11:9-10

(why a man stumbles or not is based on the light)

John 12:35-36

The light is among you for a little while longer. 

Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. (Gen. 4:7)

The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.

John 12:46

I have come into the world as light, 

so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 

(John 12:44-50) 

John 11:1-16 (Part 1)

 John 11.1, Section Outline (vs. 1-16)

1. John 11:1-6, Setting the Scene
1. A certain man was ill 
2. The Mary who anointed the Lord
3. The sisters sent for help
1. This illness does not lead to death
2. It is for the Glory of God
3. So that the Son of God may be glorified through it 
4. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus 
5. He stayed where He was two more days

2. John 11:7-16, Let’s go back to Judea 
1. The Jews where just seeking to stone you
1. Are there not 12 hours in a day?
2. The “light of the world” keeps a man from stumbling in the day
3. A man stumbles at night because he has no light in him. 
2. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep 
1. I go to awaken him
2. If he has fallen asleep he will recover
3. Now Jesus had spoken of his death
4. They thought He meant rest in sleep
3. Jesus told them plainly Lazarus has died
1. I am glad I was not there
2. So that you may believe 
3. Let us go (now) to him
4. Thomas said, “Let us also go that we may die with Him”

1. The Odd Statements 
1. John 11:6, He stayed two days longer 
1. If you love someone, why when your hear they are really sick would you wait two days before going to check on them?
2. John 11:9, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
1. What is the meaning of this statement Jesus gives in response to His disciples concerns about the people in Judea wanting to kill Him?
3. John 11:11, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I will go to awake him. 
1. Why does Lazarus need Jesus to wake him? 
2. Can he not wake himself up?
4. John 11:15, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
1. Why is Jesus glad that He was not there when Lazarus died?

2. Why are these Statements Odd?
1. These Statements are odd because they have a deeper meaning than the plain earthly meaning. 
1. “Two Days Longer”, there is a significant reason why Jesus did this. 
1. It wasn’t just His custom to be late for major events. 
2. He waited because the perfect timing required it to be delayed 2 days. 
2. The reality He points to in regards of “12 hours in a day” makes us consider the limitations of those who only have the “light of the world”. 
1. Is that the only light source of Jesus and the disciples? 
2. Is there another light source that has been being made know as we look at how Jesus speaks about light? 
3. Can Jesus travel at night while those who want to kill him are asleep? 
4. In John 6:16, when He walked on water, what time was it? 
5. How did He know where the disciples where?
3. If Jesus knew Lazarus was actually dead, why did He tell His disciples he was asleep? 
1. In the perspective of Jesus how can one person be dead and stinking and He see that as only sleeping? 
4. “Lazarus has died and for your sake I am glad that I was not there”, this statement points forward to the reality that because Jesus was not with Lazarus when he died it is going to be a good thing. 
1. How is that? 
2. What is going to happen in the future to make the absence of Jesus at the time of Lazarus death a better situation for all involved?

John 11, Chapter Outline

John 11:1-57, The Big Picture

1. John 11:1-16 (Thomas)
2. John 11:17-27 (Martha)
3. John 11:28-37 (Mary)
4. John 11:38-44 (Lazarus)
5. John 11:45-57 (Pharisees)

John 10:22-42 (Part 2)

10.3, I and the Father are One

(How does one believe?)

1. Setting the Scene (22-23)
1. What is the Feast of Dedication?(22)
2. What time of the year is it held?
3. When was it originated?
4. What is the colonnade of Solomon?(23)

2. How Long will You keep us in Suspense? (24-25)
1. If you are the Christ tell us plainly. (24)
2. I told you and you do not believe (25)
1. My works
2. And a ear to hear

(The Value of Belief in Christ)

3. The Reason you do not Believe (26-27)
1. You are not among my sheep (26)
1. (Why?)
2. My sheep hear my voice (27)
1. (Ears to hear)
3. I know them
1. (Personal Relationship)
4. They follow me
1. (Obedience)

4. Security and Assurance in Christ (28-30)
1. I give them eternal life and they will never perish (28)
2. No one will snatch them out of my hand 
3. No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand (29)
4. I and the Father are One (30)

(Religious Disagreements)

5. Being a Man, You are making Yourself God, (31-36)
1. Picked up stones again to stone Him (31)
2. For what Good work are you going to stone me?(32)
1. It is not for a good work, but blasphemy (33)
2. You being a man are making yourself God
3. It is written (34)
1. “You are gods” whom the word of God came (Ps. 86:2)(35)
2. “I am the Son of God” the One Who the Father consecrated and sent into the world (36)
1. Scripture can not be broken

6. The Works I do can Guide you to the Truth, (37-39)
1. If I am not doing the works of my Father don’t believe Me (37)
2. But if I do at least believe the works (38)
3. So that you can at least know that I am from the Father revealing His ways to you
1. They sought to arrest Him but He escaped their hands (39)

(Responding Abroad)

7. And Many Believed Him there, (40-42)

1. Went to the place where John had been baptizing at first (40)
2. John did no sign but everything he said about the Man was true (41)
3. And many believed Him there (42)

• Clear signs
• Bold statements 
• Dismantled traditional theological arguments 
• Diffused hostile situations 
• Escaped their hands

John 10:1-21 (Part 1)

 Sunday, March 12, 2023

John 10:1-21

10.1, The Door

1. Enter by the Door, (1-6)
1. How does someone become a part of God’s Family?
2. How does one prove himself to be a Good Shepherd? 
3. In what way that One cares for the sheep is it pleasing to God?
1. The one who climbs in by another way that man is a thief and a robber
2. The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep
1. To Him the gatekeeper opens
2. The Sheep hear His voice and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out
3. His Sheep follow Him for they know His voice
3. A Stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know their voice
4. They did not understand what He was saying to them, Jesus spokes in figuratives of speech 

2. I am the Door, (7-10)
1. Where is the Door?
1. All who came before me are thieves and robbers
1. But the Sheep did not listen to them
2. If anyone enters through Me, He will be saved
1. They will go in and out and find pasture
3. The Thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy
4. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly

10.2, The Good Shepherd

3. I Care for My Sheep, (11-13)  
1. The Good Shepherd is not a Hireling 
1. He who is a hired hand does not own the sheep, he sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees
2. The wolf snatches them and scatters them
3. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing about the sheep

4. I Know My Sheep, (14-16)
1. I know my own and my own know me
1. Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father
2. I lay my life down for the sheep
2. I have other sheep that are not of the fold. I must bring them also,
1. They will listen to my voice, so there will be one flock, one shepherd

5. I Lay Down My Life for the Sheep, (17-18)
1. This is why the Father loves me
1. I lay down my life that I may take it up again
2. No one takes it from me
3. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again
2. This Charge I have received by My Father

The Response 

6. There was Division, (19-21) 
1. He is a Demon and Insane, why listen to Him
2. These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon
3. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind

John 9:1-41 (Part 1)

 9.1

1. John 9:1-7, The Healing of the Man Born Blind
1. Bad Theology , (1-2)
2. Good Theology ,  (3-5)
3. Sent him to Obey His command, (6-7)
2. John 9:8-14, The Neighbors Response
1. Neighbors divided on if he is the blind man, (8-9)
2. How did He open your eyes? (He made a command to me and I obeyed it) (10-11)
3. Where is He? (12-14)
1. I don’t know 
2. They brought him to the Pharisees 
3. It was on the Sabbath

9.2

1. John 9:15-17, Pharisees 1st interview of the Man Born Blind
1. How did you receive your sight?(15)
1. This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath, (16)
2. How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?
3. There was a division among them
2. What do you say about Him? (17)
2. John 9:18-23, Pharisees interview of the parents of the Man Born Blind
1. Jews called his parents (18)
2. Was your son born blind? How does he now see?(19)
3. He was born blind but how he sees we do not know (20)
4. We do not know who opened his eyes, he is of age ask him? (21)
5. If anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue (22)

9.3

1. 1. John 9:24-34, Pharisees 2nd interview with the Man Born Blind

   Called man for the second time

   1. Give glory to God, We know that this man is a sinner (24-26)
   1. I do not know if he is a sinner
   2. But what I do know is “I was blind, now I see.”
   3. What did He do to open you eyes?
   2. Do you also want to become His disciple? (27-29)
   1. We are Moses disciples, we know God has spoken to Moses
   2. But as for this man we do not know where He comes from
   3. This is an amazing thing! You do not know where He comes from (30-34)
   1. We know God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will
   2. Never since the world began has it been heard
   3. If this man was not from God, He could do nothing
   4. You were born in utter sin and would teach us?
   1. They cast him out

9.4

1. John 9:35-38, Jesus final words to the Man Born Blind
1. Jesus found him after he was cast out (35)
2. Do you believe in the Son of Man? (36-38)
1. Who is he?
2. It is I who is speaking to you
3. I believe
2. John 9:39-41, Jesus final words to the Pharisees 
1. For Judgement I came into this world (39)
1. Those who do not see may see
2. Those who see may become blind
2. Are we blind? (40-41)
1. If you were blind you would have no guilt
2. But now that you say, “we see” your guilt remains

Notes:

Seven Signs

1-Water to Wine (John 2:1-11)

2-Healing the Royal Official’s Son (John 4:46-54)

3-Healing the Paralytic at the Pool (John 5:1-18)

4-Feeding the 5000 (John 6:1-14)

5-Walking on Water (John 6:15-25)

6-Healing a man born blind (John 9:1-41)

7-Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46)

Seven “I am” Statements

1-I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

2-I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)

3-I am the Door (John 10:9)

4-I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14)

5-I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

6-I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

7-I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)