The Book of John: Message Forty
Seven
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
In Bible
times, at the Feast of the Tabernacles, there was a
colorful ceremony called the Illumination of the
Temple. It took place in the Court of the Women. In
the center of this court were four giant candelabras.
As the twilight faded and the darkness fell the four
great candelabras were lit. They sent out such a
blaze throughout Jerusalem that every courtyard in
the city glowed with their brilliance. As the rays of
the light illuminated the court and the city, the
Lord Jesus said, "I am the light of the world:
he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life."
Let's look at
the Light. One night, after a bitter storm, an artist
drew a picture of a wintry twilight. The trees were
covered with ice and snow, and the house was dark. It
was a mournful picture. Then the artist, with a
yellow crayon, put a light in the window. The effect
was magical. The picture was transformed into a scene
of comfort and cheer. The coming of Christ into this
world was such a transforming light, for He said,
"I am the light of the world." "Does
that mean," you ask, "that He's the light
of every man and woman?" Oh, no. Only those who
follow Him. Those who don't follow Him remain in
darkness. One day a group of men brought to the Lord
a woman who had been caught in the very act of
adultery. They made her stand before the critical
crowd and they cruelly condemned her. As she stood in
the presence of the Lord - the Light of the world -
she saw her sin and her shame. But she didn't run
away from the Lord and go back into her darkness. She
waited to see His glory and grace, she wanted to be
saved. Not so, her accusers. On hearing the word of
the Lord, "He that is without sin among you, let
him first cast a stone at her," they went back
into the darkness. Why? Their deeds were evil. They
loved the darkness and wanted to live in the
darkness. You run to the Light, or you run from the
Light. If you run from Jesus, the Light of the world,
it's because your deeds are evil.
Let's look at
the leading. The Lord said, "He that followeth
Me shall not walk in darkness." Are you
wondering, "What's meant by 'following'
Jesus?" The word "following" is often
used of a soldier following his captain. Christ is
the Captain of our salvation, and the Christian is a
soldier. Are you following Him faithfully? The word
"following" is often used of a slave going
side by side with his master. Wherever the master
goes the slave waits upon him. He's at his master's
beck and call. The Christian is a bondslave to
Christ. Are you ready to spring to the service of
your Lord? The word "following" is often
used to accept the counsel of a wise man. When in
doubt, he goes to one who knows, and he accepts his
opinion. The Lord is the mighty Counsellor, and the
Christian is guided by God. He walks in His ways. In
the light of these things, are you following Jesus?
Let's think on
the life. The Lord said, "I am the light of the
world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Just as a flower can't blossom if it never comes into
the sunlight, so your life can't blossom if you don't
come believingly to the Lord. When you come to Him
and follow Him you'll have the light of life, and the
light will shine forth from your life. Dr. Albert
Banks told of a man of God who was chaplain to a
Duke. "The Duke was wayward and he was wicked.
But the chaplain was one of those genuine, faithful
souls like John the Baptist, who'd stand for right
and God. He rebuked the Duke for some great sin. The
Duke was terribly enraged, and he sent for the
chaplain to punish him. Meanwhile the chaplain had
been holding communion with the Lord and was ready
for any emergency. So he went forth with a bright and
peaceful face to meet the Duke. But when he came into
the wicked man's presence, his face wore such a look
of shining peace and steady determination toward the
truth, that it seemed to his rude master that there
was with him the actual presence of the Lord. The
Duke looked at him, and became strangely frightened,
and asked, 'Why didn't you come alone?' and sent him
away unharmed. Once you come to the Lord, you never
walk alone; His light will shine forth from
you."
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version.
Click here to go to the next message in this Sower
Scripture Study on the book of John.
This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
