“I Am the Light of the World”
Lesson 15
Purpose
To strengthen our testimonies that
Jesus Christ is our Savior and that
by following him we can gain true
freedom.
The Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot)
The Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot)
• The final, most joyous, and greatest of agricultural
festivals—the harvest
• All males of the covenant were required to appear
before the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem
• Celebrated for 8 days, around late September-early
October
Participants
constructed
temporary
tabernacles or booths
to live in during the
feast to
commemorate the
Lord’s protection of
the Israelites as they
sojourned in the
wilderness.
The Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot)
Another activity involved priests marching around
the altar carrying fruit and waving palm branches.
The Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot)
• Prayers were offered for rain and also for the
resurrection of the dead.
• In fact, the Feast of the Tabernacles came to be
associated by the Jews with hopes for a MessiahDeliverer who would bring national independence.
• Since some people believed that Jesus was this
Messiah, they used some elements of Sukkot (palms,
the Hosanna cry, and the use of the Messianic title
Son of David) at his triumphal entry into Jerusalem
six months later, during Passover.
John 7:2-5
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart
hence, and go into Judæa, that thy disciples also
may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret,
and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou
do these things, shew thyself to the world.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Jesus did go to Jerusalem for the Feast of
the Tabernacles, and he taught in the
temple.
• People’s opinions of him: John 7:12
• They were amazed at his teaching, since he
hadn’t had any schooling to speak of: John 7:15
What was his answer to those who
were amazed?
John 7:16-17
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My
doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself.
Where else have we received this kind
of advice?
Alma 32:27
But behold, if ye will awake and arouse
your faculties, even to an experiment upon
my words, and exercise a particle of faith,
yea, even if ye can no more than desire to
believe, let this desire work in you, even
until ye believe in a manner that ye can
give place for a portion of my words.
Elder John K. Carmack of the Seventy
said: “Jesus explained, ‘If any man will
do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak
of myself.’ In other words, as you try it
you can know it is true. This requires the
faith to try, but it yields spiritual
evidence. To the disciple who tries the
experiment will come conviction,
knowledge, and light” (Ensign, Nov. 1988,
26).
What has been your experience
with experimenting upon the
word of Christ?
The opposite of the promise in John
7:17 is also true: if we do not live the
principles of the gospel, our
testimonies will weaken.
Have you had any experiences
along this line?
The Woman Taken in Adultery
John 8:1–11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple,
and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and
taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman
taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in
adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be
stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to
accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger
wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up
himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin
among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the
ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their
own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at
the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left
alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none
but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are
those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her,
Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
What can we learn from this story?
Elder Marvin J. Ashton explained:
“The scribes and Pharisees brought
before the Savior a woman taken in
adultery. Their purpose was not to
show love for either the woman or
the Savior, but to embarrass and
trick Jesus. … Jesus did not condone
adultery; there is no doubt about
His attitude toward proper moral conduct. [But] He
chose to teach with love—to show the scribes and
Pharisees the need of serving the individual for her
best good and to show the destructive forces of
trickery and embarrassment” (Ensign, May 1981, 24).
During the Feast of
Tabernacles, the temple
in Jerusalem was
illuminated by the
flames from four
enormous menorahs, 73
feet tall. Their flames
could be seen
throughout the city.
This was the setting for
Jesus Christ’s proclamation,
“I am the light of the
world” (John 8:12).
How is Christ the light of the world?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks identified three ways in which
Jesus Christ is “the light of the world”:
“Jesus Christ is the light of the world because he is the
source of the light which ‘proceedeth forth from the
presence of God to fill the immensity of space’ (D&C
88:12). …
“Jesus Christ is also the light of the world because his
example and his teachings illuminate the path we
should walk to return to the presence of our Father in
Heaven. …
“Jesus Christ is also the light of the world because his
power persuades us to do good” (“The Light and Life of the
World,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 63–64).
How can we also reflect Christ’s light?
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Matthew 5:14-16
3 Nephi 18:24
Matthew 28:18-20
Philippians 2:14–15