Jesus declared he was the Light of the world, and as long as folks followed him they would not walk in darkness, for they would experience the light of life (John 8:12). What Jesus meant was, he was the Life to which the world is drawn (John 1:4), but darkness (i.e. unbelief) isn’t able to comprehend Light/Life, although it shines forth and the darkness is attracted to it (John 1:5). In John 8:13 the darkness, vis-à-vis the Pharisees, spoke out, saying Jesus’ testimony was false or at least couldn’t be verified, because he testified of himself. That is, he was one witness, and only one witness isn’t a valid witness to truth, according to the Law (Deuteronomy 19:15).
How did Jesus defend his position? Basically, he said he knew where he came from and where he was going, but they didn’t, and this was supposed to validate his testimony that he was the Light of the world. How is this so? Imagine for a moment you were a physician sent to a backwater community, where there were no physicians. You were the only one. Who could witness to your testimony that you were qualified to help these people? No one there was qualified to determine your judgments were correct. Why should they trust you? If you had the proper credentials, witnessed to by other qualified physicians and universities etc., that should be enough… correct? This is similar to Jesus’ situation. He had come out from God, but no one ever saw or heard God. Why should the Jewish authorities believe Jesus’ testimony about God? Well, Nicodemus, one of those authorities, tells us: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles, which you do, unless God is with him” (John 3:1-2). In other words, Jesus had the proper credentials.
These men knew Jesus had to have been sent by God, because no man could do the things Jesus did, so God must be behind Jesus, as he did the works (John 5:20; 14:10). Nevertheless, although Jesus has the proper credentials, and only he knows the Father’s will, yet he is not believed by the authorities (John 3:11), because certain facts, which they assume must be true (cp. John 7:27, 41-42, 52; 12:33-34), don’t fit the pattern that had been constructed to prove the identity of the Messiah. Therefore, Jesus’ true credentials were set aside, because they thought they could see and judge Jesus’ claims for themselves (John 9:40-41; cp. 8:13).
Jesus went on to say that they were judging (him) after the flesh (John 8:15), or, in other words, they wouldn’t admit any testimony (concerning him) that couldn’t be verified with their five senses. Yet, he was judging no one. He didn’t have to, because the world was already judged (John 3:18). Yet, Jesus claimed, if he did judge a man, his judgment would be true, because he isn’t alone. The Father is with him, as the second witness (John 8:16-18). Nevertheless, mankind had been judged in Eden. Once Adam, and his race with him, rebelled, there was no further need for judgment. They acted independently of God, and the Lord cast them out of his presence. Believing Jesus or accepting his credentials is the only way out of that judgment. Jesus’ credentials were impeccable, so the authorities should have believed him, despite what they thought could be used to identify the Messiah. First, and foremost, Jesus was sent by God (John 3:1-2), and they knew that. Believing him would provide all the additional proof they desired, because they would have been in the position where God would draw them to Jesus (John 6:44) and give them spiritual life (John 3:3; 6:45), which is what the flesh lacks.
The Jewish authorities then asked where Jesus’ Father was (John 8:19), which was an effort on their part to simply evade acknowledging Jesus had responded well (John 8:17-18). If Jesus did miracles that no man could do, obviously God must be with him. These authorities simply wouldn’t admit error on their part. We meet with this often, when discussing a controversial matter with folks who aren’t interested in truth, but, rather, wish to declare their own position to be correct no matter what the evidence.
Therefore, Jesus responded that these men simply didn’t know either himself or his Father, vis-à-vis they didn’t know God, for had they known Jesus, and no one can know Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44), they would have known his Father, for to know Jesus is to be taught by God, and if they are open minded enough to be taught by God, they would have known him (John 6:45). Although Jesus was speaking in the treasury, yet no one laid hands on him, for his time had not yet come (John 8:20).
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3 responses to “I Am the Light of the World!”
Jesus was sure of the Father’s Love most of the time and persists even when moments of darkness and doubt occur. That is why Jesus calls Simon Cephas and says to Simon Cephas you are Simon bar Jonah, and on this Rock I will build my Church. And yet, a little while later Simon full of Love for Jesus wants to protect Jesus and does not want Jesus to go to Jerusalem and be tested by those who would and could hurt Jesus. Jesus then says to Simon, get behind me Satan. You are not thinking like a god, you are thinking like a man (Matthew 16:23).
Isaiah 9:6 presents Christ as the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Almighty and the Wonderful Counsellor. When Christians first encounter Jesus, they think Jesus must fulfill all these roles as one person. Even though at the Great Commission, Jesus instructs the disciples to go and baptize the nations in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It mystifies believers as to how Jesus is three persons in one committed to a fourth person. If the fourth person is the Almighty, the early church assumed the everlasting Father must be the Almighty of heaven and earth who sent his only begotten [chosen] son to earth. So when Jesus comes among them and says, I am the Light of the World, they say. Says who? Where is this father you say is One with you? Why haven’t we heard his thunderous voice declaring his praise for you?
As Eddie points out.
“Imagine for a moment you were a physician sent to a backwater community, where there were no physicians. You were the only one. Who could witness to your testimony that you were qualified to help these people? No one there was qualified to determine your judgments were correct. Why should they trust you? If you had the proper credentials, witnessed to by other qualified physicians and universities etc., that should be enough… correct? This is similar to Jesus’ situation. He had come out from God, but no one ever saw or heard God. Why should the Jewish authorities believe Jesus’ testimony about God? Well, Nicodemus, one of those authorities, tells us: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles, which you do, unless God is with him” (John 3:1-2). In other words, Jesus had the proper credentials.”
And yes…the “pattern” for the LampStand was the branch of the Amygdala that Moses the Teacher of Israel hammered out of pure gold with a hammer forged with hot coal (Numbers 8:4) This LampStand needed to be released from the Tabernacle and Temple providing light for the Priests only…to be the Light of the World. Yet it was problematic that Nicodemus the Teacher of Israel vouched for Jesus because Nicodemus had spent the night with Jesus the Light of the World. At first, people being people unfamiliar with all the nuances of the Scriptures, could not see Jesus the Light of the World as a female chosen as the Gardener’s only begotten Bride. They like the Woman Jesus called the Magdala, supposed the Rabboni had taken the body, assumed the identity and role of her husband, the Father of her divine family (Psalm 128:3; John 15:1) Then after the Crucifixion and Resurrection as the Light grew bolder and brighter and walked and talked among them, walking the talk…their eyes opened and they too began to proclaim the Light of the World as they strengthened their feet and ankles like the lame man begging outside the Beautiful Gate watching, paying close attention to Cephas and John in front of the Beautiful Gate saying I have no silver or gold, but I give you the name of Jesus of Nazareth, get up and walk…they not only walked, they leapt for JOY (Acts 3:6)
Greetings Linda, as I claimed in my previous reply to you in another study, please refrain from multiple hundreds of worded comments. They really aren’t comments, and you don’t stay on topic. So, if you don’t wish to have me edit your hundreds of words in your comments down to a single paragraph of 100 words or less, please think of one thing you want to say, write it out and we’ll talk. Okay?
Okay!