vs 12 : I am the light of the world

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Discussion

• See John 1:1-5. What is the source of this light? What is Jesus saying about himself here?
• See Matthew 5:14. How can both statements be true?
• See 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 6:22. What does Jesus mean by having a healthy eye? How can we do this?

vs 13-20 : Jesus and his Father

So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness 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. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet 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. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

• Your testimony is not true – on what basis did they say this? See Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15.
• I know where I come from and where I am going. See John 13:3.
• You judge according to the flesh – what did Jesus mean by this?
• Where is your Father – What did the Pharisees think Jesus meant by his references to his Father as his other witness?
• You know neither me nor my Father –  what did Jesus mean by this? What did they probably think he meant?

vs 21-22 : Where I am going, you cannot come

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

• Where I am going, you cannot come. Was Jesus afraid to die? If not, why did he sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane?
• What is the difference between temptation and sin?

vs 23-30 : I am He

He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

• Unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins. See Exodus 3:14.
• He who sent me is true. The Father is completely consistent within himself. So is Jesus.
• I do nothing on my own authority. See John 5:18-19. This is a good goal for believers to emulate.

Personal Reflection

• What stands out to you about Jesus from these verses?