One of my historical heroes was Charles Spurgeon. By any standard, he was an amazing man. He became a pastor of country church at age 16. His gifts were so obvious, that New Park Street Chapel called him to be their pastor at age of 20 in 1854. At that time, their membership was 313 people. So many were coming to listen to him, that they began to expand their building. But within two years, they began meeting in the Surrey Music Hall. Ten Thousand people attended the first service. Eventually, they built a new building, with a 6,000 seat auditorium. They named the building, “The Metropolitan Tabernacle.” During his days, the building was regularly packed, as people came to hear him preach. It is rightly so that he is called, “The Prince of Preachers.” His sermons are still read today.

But Spurgeon did far more than preach. He pastored his church for 38 years, which meant, visiting the sick, comforting grieving families, raising up leadership at the church, guiding the staff of the church, leading the prayer meetings, casting a vision for the church, sharing the gospel with those who didn’t believe, baptizing new converts, meeting with new members, overseeing construction of new buildings, directing new ministries that emerged.

Some of these ministries included, starting an orphanage, supporting worldwide missions, establishing “the Pastors’ College,” which trained more than 900 men for ministry, many of whom were sent out to pastor other churches. Fortunately, for us, we have some (not all) of the lectures that Spurgeon gave to the Pastors’ College. They are collected together in a book entitled, “Lectures To My Students.”

During one of his lectures, Spurgeon was urging his students to use plenty of illustrations in their preaching “that they might be both interesting and instructive.” Spurgeon reminded his students of how often Jesus said, “The kingdom of is like ” “The kingdom of is like ” Using illustrations so much that “the common people heard him gladly.” Spurgeon told his students that “A sermon without illustrations was like a room without windows.”

One of his students spoke about the difficulty he had in getting such illustrations. Spurgeon said, “Yes, if you do not wake up, but go through the world asleep, you cannot see illustrations; but if your minds were thoroughly aroused, and yet you see nothing else in the world but a single tallow candle, you might find enough illustrations in that luminary to last you for six months.”

Spurgeon went on to comment on how his students at the college were “too well behaved” to say “‘Oh!’ or give a groan of unbelief.” Yet, he said, “the men who were around me at that particular moment thought that I had made rather a sweeping assertion, and their countenances showed it.”

And so, in an effort to “prove [his] words,” Spurgeon gave two lectures on candles, which are published in a book entitled, “Sermons in Candles.” You can find text and audio online for free.^[1] These sermons are illustration after illustration of what can be gleaned from candles. They are quite fascinating to read. as they are filled with story after story of candles.

It seems as if he (or a team of editors), Googled, “Candle,” and told all sorts stories about “candles.” Properly, Spurgeon called the talks that he gave, “Lectures,” as not everything that he said was sermonic in nature.

One of my favorite stories he told was the story about a grocer named George Dewar, who lived in Edinburgh during the reign of George II. I’ll read from what Spurgeon said:

“In Edinburgh, in the reign of George II., there was a grocer named George Dewar, who, besides teas, sugar, and other articles, now usually sold by grocers, dealt extensively in garden seeds. Underneath his shop he had a cellar, in which he kept a great quantity of his merchandise. One day he desired his servant-maid to go down to the cellar with a candle to fetch him a supply of a particular kind of soap kept there. The girl went to do her master's bidding, but she imprudently did not provide herself with a candlestick, and therefore found it necessary, while filling her basket with pieces of soap, to stick the candle into what she thought a bag of black seed, which stood open by her side. In returning, both her hands were required to carry the basket, so that she had to leave the candle where it was. When Mr. Dewar saw her coming up the trap-door without the candle, he asked her where she had left it? She replied that she had stuck it into some black seed near the place where the soap lay. He instantly recollected that this black seed was gunpowder, and he knew that a single spark falling from the candle would blow up the house. He also knew that the candle, if left where it was, would, in a little time, burn down to the powder. To fly, then, was to make the destruction of his house and property certain, while to go down and attempt to take away the candle, was to run the risk of being destroyed himself; for he could not tell that a spark was not to fall the next instant into the powder. He made up his mind in a moment, and descended into the cellar. There he saw the candle burning brightly in the midst of the bag of gunpowder. He approached softly, lest, by putting the air in motion, he might cause the candle to sparkle. Then, stooping with the greatest deliberation over the sack, he formed his hands into a hollow, like the basin of a bedroom candlestick, and clasped the candle between his fingers. He thus had the chance of catching any spark which might fall: none, however, fell, and he bore away the candle in safety."

Spurgeon continued:

"Bravo Mr. Dewar! But why did you leave your powder where your maid could run you into so great a risk? Presence of mind is greatly to be commended, but general carefulness may prevent the need of so great a demand upon courage as this case required."

I mention all of that because, this morning in our exposition of the gospel of John, we come to John 8:12, in which Jesus says, 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.” And so, in honor of Spurgeon and his “sermons in candles,” I would like to preach one sermon on light. The title of my message this morning is, “A Light Sermon.” We are going to consider at just one verse in the Bible.

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.”

My message this morning will be totally topical. Next week, we will look at this verse in the context of when Jesus spoke it, looking at the back and forth that Jesus had with the Pharisees. But this week, we are going to consider, “light,” a bit like Spurgeon and his “Sermons on Candles.” Now, this morning, I’m not preaching this morning on candles, yet, candles do put forth light.^[2]

Have you considered the number of lights that we have in this room? We have the overhead hanging lights 6 of them, but each of the hanging lights we have several light bulbs. We have the lights that illumine the cross from behind. there are hundreds of LED lights in the strip that illumines the cross. We have an exit light in the front, (which many of you can’t see). We have emergency lights in the back (which are intended only for use in emergency). We have screens up front, each of which contain more than 2 million pixels, each of which could be considered its own source of light. on top of the red light below the screens. We have a projector in the back, which is a light. not to mention the control panel lights on the bottoms. Many of us have phones today, which have lights on the back of them. but on the front, again, you have a display, with 3 million pixels.

I have a few more lights that I brought. I brought a flashlight, I brought a headlamp. The number of lights that we use in our daily lives is amazing. Yet, there is one light that ought to hold prominence among all of the lights. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” All other lights pale in insignificance compared with the light that Jesus gives. Because, he is the true light that has entered into the world, guiding the one and only way to God. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Follow the light of Jesus to eternal life.

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.”

Let’s step back a moment. What is light? Merriam-Webster defines light as “something that makes vision possible.”^[3] From a more scientific perspective, Wikipedia defines light as “visible radiation.” That is, light is “electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye.”^[4]

There is much electromagnetic radiation that is not detectable by the human eye. Visible light is but a small fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum. Moving from the visible spectrum, you have ultra-violet light (UV), you have X rays, you have gamma rays, becoming increasingly more dangerous to us. Long exposure to ultra-violet light will burn our skin. Long exposure to X rays and gamma rays can cause cancer, leading to our deaths. Moving to the other side of the visible spectrum, you have infrared rays, micro waves, and FM and AM waves. These are useful to us in warming our food and communicating with each other over the air.

All of these electromagnetic waves are all around us. Only some of which we can see, those in the visible spectrum. What we can see with our eyes, is only a part of the whole spectrum of “light.” So also, when it comes to Jesus, being the light of the world, we only see in part. Paul wrote of our dim sight upon this earth: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). Whatever we may see and understand of Jesus in this life, it is only a part of what we shall see and know in eternity.

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.”

Lights break forth the darkness. Suppose this room was pitch black. Still, a single candle in the room would still be seen. Not so the darkness. We don’t have anything that we call a “dark.” In other words, if you are in a bright room, bring with the sun shining in, we can’t turn on our “dark” and take the light out of the room.

The closest thing we have is a material called “Vantablack,"^[5] which is a coating upon a surface that can absorb more than 99.9% of the light that shines upon it. Yet, it doesn’t turn the room dark.

Jesus is the “light” of the world. He is the “light” that shines in the darkness, for all to see. His light is more powerful than the darkness surrounding it. This is how John set up his entire gospel. He begins (in chapter 1) by introducing us to Jesus, the Word that was God and that created all things, becoming flesh and walking among us. John likened him to a light shining in the darkness. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). Jesus is the light that shines. “I am the light of the world." Jesus came into a dark world, full of sin and shame. Jesus came to lead us out of that darkness.

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.”

Lights can lead us. The Psalmist said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). That’s Jesus, the light that’s shining in the darkness, the light that is leading us out of darkness.

Picture yourself taking a walk in the woods. Picture yourself coming upon a cave, that you decide to enter and explore. Thankfully, upon your walk, you brought a flashlight. So, you walk into the cave, and find it deep and vast. Your curiosity carries you along. The cave becomes more and more fascinating. The stalactites coming from above, are dripping their water (and calcium deposits), upon the stalagmites below. You have never seen anything so beautiful. So, you keep walking and keep discovering new treasures in the cave. You forget how far you have gone. Then, you stumble and fall, and break your flashlight. You find yourself in the pitch black, so dark that you can’t see the hand in front of your face.

Picture yourself lost in such a cave, without a flashlight, without a candle, without a phone. You are there, without hope of survival. not for a day, but for a week. You survive off the water dripping from the stalactites. Just about time that all hope is lost, you see a light in the distance, it comes from one who was sent out to search for you, the missing person who has been in the news. You call out, “I am here! I am here! I am here!” And the rescue worker follows your voice and comes and rescues you from the darkness, leading you out of the darkness into the light of the world.

This is what Jesus has done for us. He has come as a light into the world, to rescue us from the deep darkness of the cave.

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.”

When Matthew, in his gospel, began to write about the public ministry of Jesus, he quoted from Isaiah 9:2 which reads,

Isaiah 9:2
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.

This is Jesus, the light of the world! The one who came to those in deep darkness, to shine the light on them, to bring us out of the darkness.

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.”

Now, when the Bible speaks of darkness, it often uses it as a metaphor to describe our sin.

In Ephesians 5, Paul compares darkness with sin, and light with righteousness.

Ephesians 5:8-9, 11-12
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

John says much of the same thing in John 3.

John 3:19-20
And this is the judgment: 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.

Such is the world into which Jesus came. He came as light into a dark world, filled with sin. Jesus came to take away the darkness. Jesus came to take away our sin! He has done this by dying upon the cross, taking all of the darkness of our sin upon himself.

It’s no wonder, then, at the crucifixion of Jesus, that darkness descended upon Jerusalem. “From the sixth hour there was darkness over the land until the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45). What a picture of the darkness of our sin, descending upon Jesus, who bore in his body the wrath of God for our sins! On that day, the sun came out only after Jesus had breathed his last. Jesus is the light of the world, the one coming to save us from our sins. But there are those who are so deep in their darkness, that they refuse to see the light that has come into the world.

In Spurgeon’s second sermon on candles, he writes of a "Dr. Taylor of Norwich, who once said that he had read the Bible through — I think it was ten times — and he could not anywhere find the Deity of Christ in it. Honest John Newton observed, 'Yes, and if I were to try ten times to light a candle with an extinguisher on it, I should not succeed.'" Spurgeon commented, “Once make up your mind to refuse a doctrine or a command, and you will not see it where God himself has written it as with a sunbeam.”

Jesus has come as light in the darkness, and people loved the darkness, rather than the light. This is one why people don’t come to Jesus. They love their sin. They don’t want their sin exposed. Spurgeon said, “This prejudice makes men totally blind. How can we perceive anything lovable where we have resolved to hate?”

The love of sin darkens the mind to the light of Christ! Oh, church family, do you see the light? Some are blind to the light. Paul told us that people are blinded by Satan.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Paul describes the gospel as “light.” It’s the “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ!” But there are those who are blinded to it. In the context of John, chapter 8 (our text for this morning), we see the Pharisees who are blind to the truth of who Jesus is. John will illustrate their blindness in John chapter 9, when Jesus heals the blind man, who is not sensitive to light, who cannot see. But Jesus rubbed some mud in his eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam (John 9:6-7). When he did, he could see! unlike the Pharisees, who remained blind in their sin. But the good news of the gospel comes in our text:

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.”

Alistair Begg pointed out Jesus here has “a claim and a promise.” The claim is that he is the light of the world. The promise is that Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Do you want the light of life? then follow Jesus!

This is why the gospel of John was written! It was written “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). The way to demonstrate belief is to follow after Jesus! In following Jesus, you will have “the light of life.” The light of Christ will dwell within you. This is the promise of Jesus: "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (John 12:46). Many times, this light within you will be made manifest.

Do you remember Moses, as he communed with God upon the mountain? When Moses came down from meeting with God, “the skin of his face shone” (Exodus 34:30). and the people of Israel were even fearful of what they saw (Exodus 34:30), so Moses put on a veil to speak with them. It was the light of God upon his soul. Now, what happened to Moses won’t happen to us, our face won’t shine like his. But there should be a noticeable difference those who are following the Lord and those who are not. "Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed" (Psalm 34:5). This verse speaks of a joyful countenance of those who look to him!

I believe that this is the light of Christ, shining through those who are following the Lord. God intends for your light to shine in the world. Jesus said this in the sermon on the mount:

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. n the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

A light can’t help but to shine! A candle that is lit will put forth light! A flashlight turned on will give forth light!

Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

The darker the place, the more obvious will be your light. So also, a follower of Christ.

Spurgeon wasn’t the only one to inspiration from candles. John Bunyan wrote a poem entitled, “Meditations upon a Candle.” Spurgeon closed his first lecture on candles by quoting from this long poem. I would like to do the same. 

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on February 16, 2025 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] See https://archive.org/details/sermonsincandles00spur/mode/2up.

[2] At this point in my message, I lit a candle for everyone to see and remember what my message was about.

[3] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light.
 
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light.

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vantablack.

[6] John Bunyan, "A Book for Boys and Girls," which can be read here.