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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_8:12-20
12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." 13So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true." 14Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify 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. 15You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." 19So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also." 20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
Joh_8:12 "Then Jesus again spoke to them" "The multitude" is not mentioned in this chapter. It may be that the Feast of the Tabernacles is over and Jesus remained in the Temple area trying to reason and witness to the Jewish leaders.
However, as Jesus used the water ceremony of the feast to reveal Himself, in this section He uses the lighting ceremony of the feast to reveal Himself. It is surely possible that Joh_8:12 to Joh_10:21 is still set on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths).
▣ "I am the Light" Chapters 6, 7, and 8 seem to be related to the "wilderness wanderings" period of Israel's history, the source of the metaphors that Jesus uses of Himself.
1. chapter 6 uses "manna" and "the bread of life"
2. chapter 7 uses "water" and "living water"
3. chapter 8 uses "light" and "Shekinah glory."
This metaphor of light is repeated throughout John (cf. Joh_1:4-5; Joh_1:8-9; Joh_3:19-21; Joh_9:5; Joh_12:46).
There has been some debate as to exactly what this refers.
1. the ancient fear of darkness
2. a title for God in the OT (cf. Psa_27:1; Isa_60:20; 1Jn_1:5)
3. the background of the Feast of the Tabernacles, lighting of the candelabra in the Court of the Women
4. an allusion to the Shekinah cloud of glory in the wilderness wandering period that symbolized the presence of God
5. the Messianic titles in the OT (cf. Isa_42:6; Isa_49:6; Luk_2:32).
The rabbis also used "light" as a title for the Messiah. The lighting of the huge lamps in the Court of the Women during the Feast of Tabernacle is the obvious setting for Jesus' statement. The Messianic implications of light and the special references in Joh_1:4; Joh_1:8 coincide with the ceremony in the Temple for Jesus to continue to reveal His true origin.
This is one of the seven "I am" statements in John (followed by a predicate)
1. I am the Bread of life (Joh_6:35; Joh_6:41; Joh_6:48; Joh_6:51)
2. I am the Light of the world (Joh_8:12; Joh_9:5; cf. Joh_1:4; Joh_1:9; Joh_12:46)
3. I am the door of the sheepfold (Joh_10:7; Joh_10:9)
4. I am the good shepherd (Joh_10:11; Joh_10:14)
5. I am the resurrection, and the life (Joh_11:25)
6. I am the way, the truth, and the life (Joh_14:6)
7. I am the true vine (Joh_15:1; Joh_15:5)
These unique statements, found only in John, point toward the person of Jesus. John focuses on these personal aspects of salvation. We must trust Him!
▣ "of the world" This term (kosmos, see Special Topic at Joh_14:17) shows the universal scope of the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. Joh_3:16).
▣ "he who follows me" This is a present active participle. It must be remembered that Christianity is not primarily a creed or a theology, rather, it is a personal relationship followed by a lifestyle of discipleship (cf. Mat_28:18-20; 1Jn_1:7).
▣ "will not walk in the darkness" This is an allusion to the theological concept of Satan "blinding the eyes of the unredeemed" (cf. 2Co_4:4). There is a further allusion to the OT passages that speak of God's word such as a "lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (cf. Psa_119:105).
Those who accept "the Light" should live different lives (cf. 1Jn_1:7)!
▣ "the Light of life" Jesus possesses the life of God and gives it to His followers (cf. Mat_5:14), to those whom God has given to Him.
Joh_8:13 "Pharisees" See Special Topic at Joh_1:24.
▣ "Your testimony is not true" The Jews were claiming a legal technicality of evidence (i.e., a requirement of two witnesses, cf. Num_35:30; Deu_17:6; Deu_19:15-21). Jesus had spoken earlier to this very objection (cf. Joh_5:31 ff) and had given several witnesses. In this context His witness is the Father!
Joh_8:14; Joh_8:16 "if. . .if" These are both third class conditional sentences which mean potential action. Most of the conditions through chapter 8 are of this type.
▣ "I know where I came from and where I am going" This again is the "above and below" dualism. Jesus had a conscious memory of His pre-existence with the Father, an understanding of His mission, and a sense of the prophetic timetable (cf. Joh_1:1-4; Joh_1:14-18; Joh_7:28-29; Joh_13:1; Joh_17:5).
▣ "but you do not know where I come from or where I am going" This must relate to chapter 7. They did not know Jesus' place of birth (cf. Joh_8:41-42) nor did they know where He was going (cf. Joh_7:34-36; Joh_8:21). See hyperlink at Joh_1:8.
Joh_8:15 "You judge according to the flesh" This also is an allusion to chapter 7 (cf. Joh_8:24). See Special Topic: Flesh (sarx) at Joh_1:14.
▣ " I am not judging anyone" Some see a contradiction here between Joh_3:17; Joh_9:39. Jesus came not to judge, but to give life. By the very fact of His coming, those who reject Him are judged (cf. Joh_3:18-21).
Joh_8:16-18 Again this was the issue of two witnesses needed in a court case (cf. Num_35:30; Deu_17:6; Deu_19:15). Jesus, in no uncertain terms, affirms His oneness with the Father (cf. Joh_7:29; Joh_14:9). See hyperlink at Joh_1:8.
Joh_8:16
NASB (1970),
NJB, REB"He who sent Me"
NASB (1995),
NKJV, NRSV,
NIV"the Father who sent Me"
Just as there is disagreement between two editions of the NASB, there is disagreement between the UBS3,4
1. UBS3 gives "Father" a "C" rating (MS P39,66,75, à i2, B, L, T, W,
2. UBS4 gives "Father" an "A" rating (MSS à *, D, and some Old Later and Syriac versions omit it)
Jesus is never alone! The Father is always with Him (cf. Joh_8:16; Joh_8:29; Joh_16:32), except possibly on the cross (cf. Mar_15:34).
The joy and completion of fellowship is the essence of salvation. The purpose of creation was for God to have someone to fellowship with, so He (i.e., Christ, cf. Joh_1:3; 1Co_8:6; Col_1:16; Heb_1:2) created them in YHWH's image and likeness (cf. Gen_1:26-27). This loss of fellowship is the penalty of sin. Its restoration is the goal of Jesus' mission!
Joh_8:19 "Where is Your Father" They were still understanding Jesus on a physical, literal level. Their preconceived and prideful minds were closed to the truth (cf. Joh_8:27). This misunderstanding is a literary characteristic of John's Gospel.
▣ "if you knew Me, you would know My Father also" This is a second class conditional sentence. It is often called "contrary to fact." "If you knew Me, which you do not, then you would know My Father, which you do not." This theme is repeated from Joh_5:37, see full note at Joh_7:28. It is difficult to outline John's Gospel because it is like a tapestry of recurring patterns or a symphony of repeated melodies.
Joh_8:20 "He spoke in the treasury" This verse is apparently another editorial comment from an eyewitness. The treasury was not a separate building. Rabbinical tradition (Shekalim 6) says there were thirteen trumpet-shaped containers, each marked for a specific purpose, located in the Court of the Women (cf. Mar_12:41), where the huge lamps were lighted during the Feast of Tabernacles.
▣ "His hour had not yet come" See note at Joh_2:4.