I am the light of the world

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me." Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also." These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

- John 8:12-20

In the previous reading, Jesus was teaching in the temple on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. He taught about the living water that He has to offer; the Spirit that will pour from Him. The crowd is divided about Him, while the religious leadership seeks to arrest Him. "No man ever spoke like this!" the temple police say, when they fail to arrest Him. Nicodemus, whom we remember from earlier in the Gospel when Jesus spoke to him about baptism, tells the leadership they are violating their own law by not hearing Jesus out. But the leadership can only answer him with sarcasm.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." We remember that Jesus is at the Feast of Tabernacles, the commemoration of the wandering in the wilderness of ancient Israel, when they lived in tents or tabernacles. My study bible points out that at this festival torches were lit in the temple court, and singing and dancing continued all night. So, as with the water poured for libation in the previous reading, when Jesus taught about the "living water," we have another fulfillment in this reading, of the "true light" that is the source of all light.

The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me." Once again, we return to the theme of witnessing. And there is also repetition in Jesus' statement about where He comes from and where He is going - what are His true origins to which He will return.

It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me." Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also." These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. In the face of great opposition, Jesus, here in John's Gospel, continues to proclaim His divine origin. He doesn't shirk from openly proclaiming His origin, His relationship with the Father, the nature they share. John will continually use words that have a colloquial sense that defies the meaning Jesus elucidates. It is as if they are speaking different languages: Jesus is speaking of a divine reality, and they "judge according to the flesh." But the difference opens up our eyes to the reality Jesus is trying to express. My study bible says, "The Pharisees either were unable to understand Jesus' words or were simply astonished that Jesus was claiming God as His own Father."

To understand Christ is to delve into the greatest mystery. How can one bear witness to the nature and reality of God unless one is also of divine origin? Jesus says the Father is with Him, and He is with the Father; therefore His judgment is true. Let us try to ponder this mystery, and recall that testimony also occurs within us, and it is the stuff of faith. The Father bears witness to Him, and the Father prompts confession and faith in us, a kind of recognition that comes via revelation. How does faith and witnessing work in your life? What witness do you rely on for faith? How do you come to trust? These are questions we can ask ourselves as we read of the Pharisees' pondering Jesus' words, as their frustrations grow in questioning Him and apprehending Him, and yet His hour has not yet come.