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    • #22: The Spirit of Truth, part two
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    • #24: The Whole Armor of God, part 1
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    • #26: Victory over all the power of the evil one, part 3
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    • #29: Victory over Fear
    • # 30 Freedom through Jesus Christ
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    • #5: When a King and a Prophet Agreed in Prayer, part one
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    • #7: A Wall of Fire for our Nation

#12: JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF LIFE
(John 8:12-18)


Autumn, A. D. 29, during the feast of Tabernacles, Jerusalem
 
As sundown arrives, four young men carry 10 gallon pitchers of oil into the Court of Women. At one end of the Court of Women is the “Beautiful Gate” leading into the Gentile Court and at the other end is the “Great Gate” leading into the Israeli Court. The four youths pass “the treasury” where 13 trumpet-shaped offering containers line the wall of the temple treasury. The four approach four giant candelabra, each about 75 feet tall, which were set up for the Festival. The purpose of the candelabra is to remind everyone of the pillar of fire which, by night, guided their forefathers through the wilderness in the days in which this feast was first instituted.
 
When they arrive at the candelabra, the four young men climb ladders to reach the four golden bowls on each of them and they fill the bowls with oil. A group of musical priests play a joyful psalm to the Lord. Some dance. Other Levites slowly climb the 15 steps which lead up to the inner court while they chant from The Psalms of Ascents (Psalm 120-134).
 
Jesus comes into this part of the temple and watches the young men light each one of the four bowls of each candelabra. Suddenly, 16 mighty blazes of fire leap into the sky! The temple is on a hill above the rest of the city, so the fire illuminates not only the temple precincts, but also the whole city. The priests shout in unison, “Lord, You gave them a great fire to illuminate the darkness!” (Psalm 105:39b) Then Jesus shouts, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12b, NIV). As the light of the candelabra lights up the dark night, the light of the words of Jesus dispel spiritual darkness.
 
Immediately, Pharisees who hate the true light rush to challenge Jesus,  
    “Your testimony has no authority or validity because you are witnessing about yourself! We are tired of your false claims.”  
    Jesus answers, “Even if I give witness about myself, my witness is true, because I have knowledge of where I came from and where I am going; . . . Even in your law it is said that the witness of two men is true. I give witness about myself and the Father who sent me gives witness about me.” “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:14, 17-18, Bas, 24, NIV).
 
The prophet warned, “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:20a, NIV). The penalty for sin is death; only through trust in this righteous man who never sinned and paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, can one receive forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life.
 
Comment: I love Jesus’ promise recorded in John 8:12: “I Am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12b). Over the years, it seems the world has grown darker. Today many are living in spiritual darkness and in the shadow of death (Matthew 4:16). But I am thankful that God’s light has dawned upon us and that even now His Spirit is drawing people to believe in Jesus and His Good News. He is our Light and Salvation (Psalm 27:1). His Word enlightens our pathway as we believe it and speak it to ourselves and to others (Psalm 119:105, 130). As we follow Him, there is and always will be spiritual light to walk in. In fact, “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of the dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18, NLT).  As you follow the Lord, expect that to be the case in your life. Expect to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

 

Note: much of this devotional is from The Life of Jesus Foretold, pages 180-181.
© COPYRIGHT 2021 by Stephen Long. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
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  • Books
    • Polycarp and the Second Century Church
    • The Life of Jesus Foretold
    • Proverbs of Faith, Hope and Love
    • 300 Things I Like About Who I am in Jesus
  • Reviews
    • Reviews of Polycarp and the 2nd century church
    • Reviews of The Life of Jesus Foretold
  • Devotionals & Articles
    • Life of Jesus Devotionals >
      • #1 Life of Jesus devotional
      • #2 Life of Jesus devotional
      • #3 Life of Jesus devotional
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      • #5: Life of Jesus Devotional
      • #6 Life of Jesus devotional
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      • # 11 Life of Jesus devotional
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      • #12 Life of Jesus devotional
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    • 3rd group - Life of Jesus Devotionals >
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      • #24 Life of Jesus devotional
      • # 25 Life of Jesus Devotional
      • #26 Life of Jesus Devotional
    • Church History Articles >
      • 8-1-16 The Second Century Church, part one
      • 8-15-16 Second Century Church, part two
      • 9-1-16 The Second Century Church, part three
      • 9-15-16 The Second Century Church, part four
      • 10-1-16 The Second Century Church part five
      • 10-15-16 The Second Century Church, part six
    • More Church History Articles >
      • 11-1-2016, The Second Century Church, part seven
      • 11-15-2016 The Second Century Church, part 8
      • 12-1-2016 The Second Century Church, part 9
      • 12-15-2016, The Second Century Church, part 10
      • 1-15-2017, The Second Century Church, part 11
  • Proverbs of Faith, Hope and Love
    • #1: The Love of God, from I John
    • #2: God's Love - Isaiah 58
    • #3: The Greatness of Jesus
    • #4: Our Sufficiency is in Christ
    • #5: The Importance of Our Words
    • #6: The Greatness of Jesus #2
    • #7 The Wisdom of God
    • #8 Faith and Prayer (from the teaching of Jesus)
    • #9 Faith and Prayer (from Romans)
    • #10 Faith and Prayer (from Hebrews)
    • # 11: God Gives us Hope
    • # 12: Mercy and Compassion
    • #13: The Lord is our Refuge
    • #14 Jesus is our Righteousness
    • #15 The Peace of God
    • #16 The Joy of the Lord
  • More Proverbs of Faith, Hope and Love
    • #17 Victory Over All the Power of the Evil One
    • #18: The Wisdom of God (from the teaching of Jesus)
    • #19 The Spirit of Truth
    • #20 The Love of God (from I Corinthians 13)
    • #21: The Love of God (from I Corinthians 13, part two)
    • #22: The Spirit of Truth, part two
    • #23: Victory Over All the Power of the Evil One, part 2
    • #24: The Whole Armor of God, part 1
    • #25: The Whole Armor of God, part 2
    • #26: Victory over all the power of the evil one, part 3
    • #27: Faith and Prayer, part 4
    • #28: Our God Gives us Hope, part two
    • #29: Victory over Fear
    • # 30 Freedom through Jesus Christ
  • Proverbs of Faith, Hope and Love, third group
    • #31: Seeking the Lord
  • Declarations of Faith
    • Declaration Proclaiming Forgiveness
    • Create Blessings!
  • Poems
    • #1 Poem Describing Heaven
    • Poem #2, A Great Battle at the End of Time
    • #3 Poem, the trials of Job
    • #4 Poem, God's Love from Romans
    • Poem #5: Receiving God's Rest
  • Miscellaneous Articles
    • # 1: "And the plague was stopped"
    • #2 "Let the Sun of Righteousness Arise!"
    • #3: The Pulling Down of Dagon
    • #4 The Pulling Down of Dagon, Part Two
    • #5: When a King and a Prophet Agreed in Prayer, part one
    • # 6: When a King and a Prophet agreed in prayer, part 2
    • #7: A Wall of Fire for our Nation