Episode 57 - "I am the light of the world" - John 8:12-20

John 8:12   Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

I’ve had the privilege to have extended backpacking adventures with each of my sons in the Rocky Mountains. For ten days each, we packed our own food and water, shelter, clothes, and everything we needed to survive and enjoy the trek through beautiful nature. 

Before each journey, the people who were responsible for making sure we were prepared to safely begin and complete the journey gave us rules and advice for that purpose. One of the rules was that we could not hike when it was dark. The reason was that someone might not see the trail or something dangerous and we could fall down a mountain or be attacked by a bear or lion. Furthermore, if someone fell, no one else would be able to see them in order to help them.

It makes sense then that Jesus uses light and darkness as a metaphor for obeying God or disobeying God. Do you remember what John said about Jesus in the opening verses of this book? He said that the Word (Jesus) is “the true light that gives light to every man.” (John 1:9) Jesus is God’s light that, if we walk in that light and follow that light, we can see where we’re going and not run into trouble. John also says that this light of Jesus is available to every man (person). 

This point of Jesus is not random. The context here is still the Feast of Tabernacles which celebrates God’s leading and provision for the Israelites during the Exodus. Already Jesus has claimed, “I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:48) God had provided bread for the Israelites in the form of manna in the wilderness. But, Jesus pointed out, they still ultimately died. Jesus taught that he was God’s provision of spiritual food for eternal life. Now, he’s teaching the people that just as God led their ancestors at night in a pillar of fire, so he is God’s light to guide us truly to God throughout our life. Again, Jesus invokes the divine name “I am.” This is the second occurrence of this.

The Pharisees attempt to use Jesus’ own point from the Law in John 5 from Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15 that there must be two or three witnesses. They say that his claim is not true because he’s bearing witness about himself. But, Jesus points out again that there are other witnesses that confirm his testimony. Therefore, his claim is validated. What essentially happens here is that these Pharisees are trying to indict Jesus on a charge in order to condemn him. But, he points to the fact that they are indicted on account that they do not know him or his Father. 

It’s possible that their question, “Where is your Father?” may be a form of attack, perhaps insinuating that Jesus was illegitimate. Recall that Jesus, back in chapter five said, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.” (John 5:17) The Jews understood that he was making God his own Father, making himself equal with God. In John 6:41-42, the hostile Jews say, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” I think these Pharisees know exactly what Jesus is claiming. But, they are attacking and refusing to accept anything he has to say. They do not really know Jesus or God the Father. Therefore, they do not have what they need for eternal life.

I think this challenge is not just for the people of Jesus’ day, but for ours as well. When we read the accounts of Jesus’ teachings, do we give an appropriate ear to his claims and judge according to what the other Scriptures teach about God? Do we judge his claims in light of the miracles he worked? Or, do we judge his claims based upon our own reason and self-centered agendas and values?

We need God’s eternal life-giving bread and light.