THE LATER JUDEAN MINISTRY

-Jesus Identifies Himself as the Light of the World - Pharisees are Angered

-John 8:12-20

-Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world (see John 1:4-5).  Those who will follow

 Him will not walk in darkness.  Of course, within scripture, “light” represents those things that

 are pure, holy, righteous, in accordance with God’s will.  Darkness, on the other hand,

 represents that which is corrupt, vile, sinful, against God’s will.

-Upon hearing these words, the Pharisees accused Jesus of bearing witness of Himself.  Perhaps

 they recalled the words of Jesus spoken in John 5:31.  Under the Law, self-testimony could not

 establish something as truth.

            -Jesus told them that even though He did bear witness of Himself, His word was still true. 

             He knew where He came from (heavenly home) but they did not (seeing Him as a Galilean). 

             Without a proper understanding of His origin, they failed to see Him as the “light of the

             world.”  Not realizing where He had come from, they didn’t understand where He was going.

            -They judged according to their physical perspectives according to outward appearances. 

             Jesus did not judge accordingly.  His primary role at that time was not one of Judge but

             Savior.  The truth that He brought from the Father would/will serve as the basis for future

             judgment when He returns as Judge (John 12:46-50).  “As an exception to His general

             course he might at intervals condemn a sinner; but should he do so the sentence would be

             just…” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 454).

-Jesus then indicated that, in accordance with the Law, the testimony of two men would establish

 the truth.  Thus, these requirements were far surpassed due to Jesus’ witness of Himself and the

 witness of the Father in heaven - testimony from two Divine Beings - not mere men.  Of course,

 Jesus had previously cited additional witnesses in John 5 including His miraculous works, John

 the Baptizer and the Old Testament scriptures.

            -They responded by asking, “Where is thy Father?” (John 8:19).  “They evidently thought

             that Jesus referred to the testimony of some earthly parent (see verse 27), and appeal to him

             to produce this absent, unseen witness” (ibid). 

            -Their own statement confirmed the words that followed from Jesus, “Ye neither know me,

              nor my Father:  if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

-Jesus spoke these words while in the treasury.  “It was located in the court of the women,

 probably the most public part of the temple.  The Sanhedrin held its sessions usually in the hall

 Gazith, which was located between the court of women and the inner court.  Jesus was therefore

 teaching within hearing of the headquarters of his worst enemies, from whence came the orders

 shortly before (7:32,33) for his arrest” (Lipscomb, pg 126).

            -Even though the hatred of the Jews continued to grow, as we’ll see through the rest of John

             8, they did not take Him.  Again, we see the providence of God at work in accordance with

             His plan.