Light of the World
TRANSLATION
(12) 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.” (13) The Pharisees challenged him, “You testify about yourself, but your testimony is not true.” (14) Jesus responded, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is true because I know where I come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (15) You judge by human standards, but I judge no one. (16) But 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 witnesses is true. (18) I am the one who testifies regarding myself, and my other witness is the Father who sent me.” (19) They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus responded, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father as well.” (20) These words he spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple, but no one arrested him because his time had not yet come.
OBSERVATIONS
This segment contains Jesus’ second great “I am” statement of the seven found in John’s Gospel. Repetitions in this segment include “spoke” (vss. 12 & 20), “light” (vs. 12), “testify/testimony” (six times in vss. 13, 14, & 17), “responded” (vss. 14 & 19), “judge/judgment” (five times in vss. 15 & 16), and “Father” (five times in vss. 16, 18, & 19). After his declaration, Jesus was forced to defend this claim against two charges that had little to do with the significance of his being “the light of the world.” The first accusation had to do with the validity of his testifying regarding himself. The second focused on his use of the term, “Father,” the personal name Jesus constantly used to describe his relationship with Yahweh.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus claimed to be the light for a world shrouded in darkness. (12)
II. Jesus defended his claims against those who questioned the validity of his testimony. (11-20)
IDEA STATEMENT
When Jesus declared himself to be “the light of the world,” his critics questioned the validity of his claims as well as his right to call God his Father.
APPLICATION
The prologue to John’s Gospel portrayed the conflict between light and darkness that characterized Jesus’ earthly ministry with the following words: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him…” (Jn. 1:9-11).
At the moment when Jesus made his astounding claim, “I am the light of the world,” it was largely ignored, drowned out by the controversies that surrounded his earthly ministry. The Pharisees questioned the validity of his assertion based on the assumption that he was providing an individual testimony that no other credible witness supported. The moment he cited the Father as bearing witness to the Son’s person and work, they mocked him with the taunting question, “Where is your father,” subtly implying that he had been born illegitimately. The truth about his identity which could have saved them from condemnation was lost in their attempts to discredit the Lord of Life. Offered the light, they sadly chose to remain in the darkness.