Following the Light
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Avoiding spiritual darkness by walking in the Light of Christ.
Text: John 12:34-36
Date: 11/11/2018, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 110
Description:
As Jesus comes to the end of the mini-discourse sparked by the arrival of the Greeks, He returns once again to the familiar metaphor of light and darkness. In response to His impassioned warning that the Cross will bring judgment to those who reject it just as it brings redemption to those who believe-- the crowd responds with a legalistic if not contentious question concerning the nature of the Son of Man. Rather than answer them directly, Jesus draws the sharp distinction between spiritual Light and darkness, warning His hearers that in order to stay out of the encroaching darkness, they must walk with the Light and follow Him in belief. We will consider this intensely relevant graphic metaphor and how it applies to both believers and non-believers. Ultimately, we will ask ourselves what keeps our feet nailed to the floor (and under the threat of darkness) when the Light of the World calls us to follow Him and become children of Light.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 12:34-36.
A. Context
1. The Cross and Jesus' imminent departure.
2. Following Christ in radical discipleship.
3. Opposition to the Light.
4. The danger of spiritual darkness.
B. Threatened by darkness.
1. A contentious response, vs. 34.
a. Identifying "the crowd".
b. Registering the response.
c. The first question concerning the Law.
i. The expectation of an eternal Christ.
• Getting picky with the nitpickers.
• Scriptural evidences, 2Sam. 7:16, Psa. 89:35-37,110:4, Isa. 9:7, Ezek. 37:25, Dan. 7:14.
ii. The confusion over the Cross.
• Implied emphases.
• Implied conclusions.
d. The second question of incredulity.
i. Demanding an explanation.
ii. Nailed to the floor.
2. Walking in the Light, vs. 35-36a.
a. Answering the question with a warning.
b. Walking in the Light.
i. The imminent departure of the Light, John 1:9, 8:21.
ii. The coming and going of the Light.
• The urgency of moving with the Light.
• What Jesus means by "walking", vs. 36a, John 12:25-26.
• The threat of overwhelming darkness, Luke 19:44.
iii. The nature of the darkness.
iv. Becoming children of light, 1Th. 5:5.
3. A profound object lesson, vs. 36b.
III. Application
A. For the unbeliever.
1. What nails you to the floor?
2. What of God's Providence?
B. For the believer.
IV. Conclusion
