Introduction

‘When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law, it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.’ John 8:12-20

Here we find the sixth discourse where Jesus begins teaching in the treasury, in the court of the women, John 8:20. There were 13 large chests with trumpet-like openings to receive gifts and also in this court there were 4 large candelabra 50ft high used for the ceremony called the illumination of the temple, this was to commemorate the Pillar of Cloud and Fire in the wilderness, Exodus 13:21-22.

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

There are 16 signs recorded in John’s gospel, 8 are things which Jesus did and 8 were things which Jesus said. John is basically saying that the ‘I AM’ claims of Jesus are signs, selected from many other signs.

And he says these signs are selected with a purpose in mind and that purpose is that you believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be, John 20:30-31.

Here we find the second of seven of Jesus’ I AM’ claims, John 6:35 / John 8:12 / John 8:58 / John 10:9 / John 10:11 / John 11:25 / John 14:6 / John 15:1.

Each of His ‘I AM’ claims are claims that He is God, EGO EIMI, is the Greek equivalent of YHWH, Exodus 3:13-14 / John 5:18. He is Eternal, Psalm 135:13, and self-existent, Psalm 88:6-7.

When we come to the ‘I AM’ claims of Jesus, we need to remember that Jesus was not giving Himself a Name or a title, but was asserting His Deity. In other words every ‘I AM’ reveals some aspect of His nature and purpose.

Jesus claims to ‘the light of the world, John 8:12. Jesus makes an incredible claim that the Jewish authorities represent darkness, whilst Jesus represents light, John 9:5.

In the first eighteen verses of John’s gospel we read that the word, who became the Son, brings light to the world. Jesus here declares Himself to be that light, John 1:1-18.

An interesting allegory can be drawn between the followers here walking in the light, and the followers in the desert walking in the light of the pillar of fire. This is especially relevant as the feast of Tabernacles which remembers the divine guidance of the Jews after the Exodus was in progress, John 7:1-53.

John always connects light with life and darkness with death, 1 John 1:5. The light that brings spiritual illumination to all men, Isaiah 9:2 / Isaiah 60:1-3 / John 1:9 / John 12:46 / Ephesians 5:8.

Notice Jesus uses the word, ‘follows’, John 8:12, this is the present continuous tense, John 10:48. The word, ‘darkness’, ‘skotia’ John 8:12, is an emblem of sin, John 1:5 / John 12:46. Light of life means light resulting from the possession of Eternal life, John 1:4.

We see in John 8:13-18 that the Pharisees will not believe Jesus and they come with the idea that as He doesn’t have a second witness, and so, His claims are invalid, Deuteronomy 19:15.

In John 5:31-40, Jesus explains who His co-witnesses are and there He discredited His own witness, but here He doesn’t, John 8:14. Instead, He invokes higher spiritual standards and claims God the Father as the co-witness, John 8:16-18.

In John 8:14, Jesus claims higher knowledge than the ones who have studied and so, the denial of Jesus’ testimony is invalid but Jesus supports what He says with three facts.

1. He knows His heavenly origin and destination, John 8:14.

2. It isn’t Jesus alone who judges but the Father who sent Him, John 8:15-16.

3. The two witnesses of the Father and the Son, John 8:16-18, should be enough for Deuteronomy 19:15, and His works are an extra witness, John 10:25, and they were done with divine help and cooperation, John 3:2.

In John 8:19 we see the Pharisees and everyone else knew what Jesus was referring to when He spoke of ‘My Father’. They ask for clarification in an attempt to get a direct statement to use against Him. They may also be implying that they thought Jesus was illegitimate.

Another possibility is that they thought He was referring to Joseph who they knew was dead, and were saying ‘go on produce your dead witness’.

But it’s more likely that they knew He was referring to God as His Father and were sarcastically demanding that He produce God as His witness. Again, Jesus claims higher knowledge than His questioners, again He ‘blasphemes’, and again the Pharisees are unable to seize Him, John 8:20.

The sessions of the Sanhedrin were held in a room in which only a wall separated them from the court of the women, John 8:20. Jesus would have been within earshot when He made His statement, yet it was impossible for anyone to arrest Him, John 8:20. His hour hadn’t yet come as it’s only six months more till He is crucified.

Christians need to let the reflective light of Christ shine in their lives, Matthew 5:14-16 / 2 Corinthians 4:6 / Ephesians 4:17-19 / Ephesians 5:8-14 / Philippians 2:14-15.