A Word about the Proven Light

 

Today we will continue a series of sermons based on our 2026 VBS theme that I am calling The Light of the World. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is The Proven Light.

How do people prove a thing? That will vary depending upon what realm of life we are considering. For example, in social media, a common meme is, “Pictures or it didn’t happen!” That goes along with the idea of, “Seeing is believing” or the motto of Missouri, which is the “Show Me State.”

In legal realms, a person might submit an affidavit which is attested to by a notary public. During trials, evidence is testified to by witnesses, some of whom relate to the court what they saw in eyewitness testimony, while other swear to the reliability and veracity of physical or circumstantial evidence.

Scientists look to empirical evidence to support their hypothesis, and in sports we play the game or run the race to prove who is the better team or athlete. All manner of contests are conducted each year in all manner of professions, crafts, and hobbies, and each of them will establish the criteria by which the products of the contestants are judged. Industries around the world have established standards which their quality control offices are expected to enforce. The list of how we prove a thing is almost endless.

As extensive as the list of proofs may be, none of them are perfect. Jesus, however, perfectly proved that He is the Light of the World, however, and that proof is the subject of our message for today. Let’s begin with Mark 14:22-31.

As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.  But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”  “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

How do we know that Jesus is The Proven Light? Let’s begin by understanding the Biblical standards to prove a spiritual fact.

The Need to Prove:

What is the Biblical guidance to prove whether someone has come from God with a message from God? The Bible gives is clear guidance about this but before we take up the task of discerning those standards, we should ask why we should apply those standards. After all, didn’t Jesus say in the Sermon on the Mount, “Do not Judge?”

Yes, Jesus did say that, but He said more than that. This is what He actually said in Matthew 7:1-2, 

Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.

This type of judgment is for condemnation, not evaluation. All of us are sinners, and when we condemn others, we are also condemning ourselves. Jesus also said in Matthew 7:15-20,

Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

 Far from prohibiting us from evaluating the truthfulness of a spiritual leader, Jesus actually commanded us to do so. Later, in 1John 4:1, the Apostle John reminded believers of that need. He said,

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Long before there was fake news, false prophets led God’s people astray and undermined their faith and their witness for God. When they do this people get hurt, and God is dishonored. Even in modern times, this continues to happen. Two obvious examples of this would be Jim Jones and the Jonestown Massacre in Guyana, and David Koresh and the Mount Carmel siege and disaster. Other, less notorious, examples can be found which also have hurt untold numbers of people.

Not only are we commanded to evaluate our spiritual leaders, but God invites His people to put Him to the test also. In Malachi 3:10, God challenges us to test Him and see what He will do in our lives. What are the Biblical standards for such an evaluation? Let’s read Deuteronomy 18:17-22,

Then the Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. I will hold accountable whoever does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name. But the prophet who presumes to speak a message in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet must die.’ You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a message the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the Lord’s name, and the message does not come true or is not fulfilled, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

How to Prove:

What is the Biblical guidance to prove whether someone has come from God with a message from God? The Bible gives us clear guidance, the most basic of which is simply this: if the Lord promises something He will do it, and if a prophet announces God’s plans, they will come true. On the other hand, if what a leader of God’s people says does not come true, that statement and that person were not sent from God. This is a very digital standard: a predicted thing happened or it didn’t happen. This is black and white, with no shades of gray, but what about things whose time has not yet come? The Bible gives us more guidance that will help us discern the truth.

First, a true prophet’s message will never contradict the teachings and character of God as revealed in the Scriptures. God’s Word is congruent, and it never contradicts itself. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 says,

If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let’s follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let’s worship them,’ do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.

In the New Testament church, Apollos was a powerful orator who had a great power of influence. The problem was that He was preaching an incorrect Gospel. He could have wrecked the early church, had not Pricilla and Aquilla taken him aside and helped him to understand the whole counsel of the Word of God.

The Bible also tells us to evaluate a prophet’s life and character. That’s What Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount when He said that we will know them by the fruit of their lives. A true prophet will exhibit a life of righteousness and integrity, reflecting the holiness of God. A problem that has arisen with some Christian leaders today is that their maturity and integrity have not kept pace with their talents and their ability to influence people. If they are not careful, they might lead people astray. The lives led by cult leaders Jim Jones and David Koresh would not have met this standard, and that should have been a warning for more trouble to come. And trouble certainly came to their followers.

I once knew a pastor of a small church who was convicted in Federal court of swindling dozens of elderly people out of tens of thousands of dollars. He was sent to prison for nearly a year, but he told the members of his church that he was leaving on an extended mission trip! When he was discharged from prison, he went back to the church and began preaching again! The true facts of his absence were discovered before more people were harmed.

Another test of a true prophet is that their ministry edifies the church. In 1 Corinthians 14:3, Paul wrote that, “the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.” A true prophet's message will build up the body of Christ, promoting spiritual growth and unity.

Finally, a true prophet operates under the influence and power of the Holy Spirit. His fruit and His gifting are apparent in their ministry.

So, we have seen the need to prove a spiritual proclamation, and we have also seen how to prove it. What did Jesus say that He would also later prove? Let’s consider Mark 10:32-40,

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him. “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days.” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”  “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them. They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We are able,” they told him.  Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

What To Prove:

In this passage we see Jesus opening up to His disciples about what the future held for His ministry. He was predicting some very specific events would take place, events that would radically affect their lives. Let’s review a simplified list of these events:

• He and the Disciples would go to Jerusalem.
• He would be betrayed and placed in the hands of the Jewish leaders.
• The Jews would hand Him over to the Gentiles
• He will be condemned to death
• He would be mocked and abused, and then He’d be killed.
• He would rise again the third day.
• Jesus would drink this cup willingly.

This passage is short and it contains few details, but the impact on His disciples was significant. All of them knew something big was about to happen. This surprised them all and it frightened most of them. Somehow, James and John mistakenly saw this as an opportunity to gain higher positions and more authority. Regardless, all of His followers believed what Jesus had told them and they took His words seriously. Were they being naïve, or would Jesus prove to be true in what He said would happen? Let’s read Mark 14:32-37

Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved[g] to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”  Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake one hour?

What Was Proven:

In short, the next two chapters of Mark prove that what Jesus said would happen, did happen and that Jesus did what He said that He would do. 

First, we see clearly that Jesus and His followers were in Jerusalem, and that He willingly drank of the cup of His sacrifice in accordance with the will of the Father. What else happened that Jesus had predicted?  Mark 14:42-50 tells us,

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. They took hold of him and arrested him. One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then they all deserted him and ran away.

Obviously, Jesus was handed over to the Jewish authorities, and He was betrayed by Judas and the rest of His disciples. How was He treated by them?  Mark 14:55-65 says,

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” Yet their testimony did not agree even on this. Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” But he kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death. Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple servants also took him and slapped him.

Even this was not the limit of what happened to Jesus. Mark 15:1-3 says,

As soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priests tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.  So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things.

Mark 15:15-20 tells us what happened next:

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called the whole company together. They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage. After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him. They led him out to crucify him.

So, again, so far everything that Jesus had predicted came to pass. These were just the warm-up acts, however. The main event was yet to come, because if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, the fact that the rest of His prophecies came true would not have any meaning. Prophecy is an “all or nothing” affair, so we must ask, did Jesus finish the job? Of course He did. Let’s read Mark 16:1-7,

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb at sunrise. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” Looking up, they noticed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’”

So, everything Jesus predicted came to pass, proving that He was the Light of the World and the Son of God. Because of this we can agree with the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross an said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”

Conclusion:

 When David volunteered to confront Goliath, Saul gave David his own armor and sword to use in the encounter, but David rejected them because he had not proven them. Instead, he chose to go out armed with his tried-and-true sling and five smooth stones. In these Scriptures we have seen that Jesus is the Proven Light, and we have no need for any substitutes. In fact, only the original will do!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt