John
8:12-30
Lesson 184
8:12-30
Lesson 184
John 8:12-30
The light of the world 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. |
Margin notes:
"Then spake Jesus again unto them." (8:12) - Jesus returns to talking with the assembled crowd after the incident with the Pharisees and the adulteress woman. "I am the light of the world." (8:12) - To the Pharisee's shock, Jesus is proclaiming His deity. This critical point, that Jesus is the "light of the world," is repeated from John 1:9. So there can be no misunderstanding, Jesus will tell us again in verses 9:5 and 12:46. Also, this is the second of seven times in John's Gospel that Jesus says, "I Am." The first was "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). Keep your eyes open for the next five. "Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true." (8:13) - Means, "You're bearing witness for yourself, therefore it can't be trusted." According to Mosaic Law, at least two witnesses were required to validate a claim (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). "Ye cannot tell whence I come." (8:14) - "You don't know where I come from." "Ye judge after the flesh." (8:15) - "You judge according to human standards." "The testimony of two men is true." (8:17) - Again, the Mosaic Law required at least two witnesses to establish a truth. "The treasury." (8:20) - Part of the "Court of Women" inside the Temple, so named because thirteen donation boxes were located there (see also Luke 21:1-4). "No man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come." (8:20) - God's divine plan called for Jesus to be arrested later in Gethsemane Garden, giving Him more time to prepare His church. See also John 7:30 (lesson 181). "I go my way, and ye shall seek me." (8:21) - Where will Jesus go? Look back to John 7:33-34 (lesson 181). "Ye...shall die in your sins." (8:21) - Jesus will reinforce this message in verse 8:24. "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (8:24) - Believe in Jesus Christ or die in sin, a powerful statement. "He that sent me is true." (8:26) - Means God is dependable. Jesus is repeating this from John 7:28. See also John 3:33. "When ye have lifted up the Son of man." (8:28) - "When you have lifted me up on the cross." |