I Am The Light Of The World

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."

JOHN 8 COMMENTARY ◄
John 8:3-11 Woman Caught In Adultery

John 8:12-20 I Am the Light of the World

JOHN 8:12 12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

To whom did Jesus say, “I am the light of the world...” if everybody had “left” (John 8:9)?
The accusers of the woman caught in adultery had left but the people who were being “taught” (John 8:2) before their intrusion were still there. John 8:20 below says that Jesus spoke these word “in the treasury... in the temple,” so He also may have moved to a different part of the temple, and it may be a little later since (other) Pharisees had arrived.

Why did He declare to them, “I am the light of the world”?
When night fell on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, four golden lamps were lit in the temple and remained lit for the duration of the feast. The Greek word translated “early in the morning” in John 8:2 is ορθρου (orthrou), which literally means “dawn.” As the day dawned after the last night of the feast, the four golden lamps were extinguished. It is at this moment that Jesus told those around Him, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

What does it mean that those who follow Jesus “will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life”?
They will not continue lost in sin but follow after Jesus, who will light up the way and be their way to everlasting life.

JOHN 8:13 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You testify about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”

What do the Pharisees mean by Jesus' testimony being “not true”?
According to Jewish legal standard, a testimony was valid only if at least two men stood by it. They were saying that since Jesus is alone in His testimony, it is invalid.

JOHN 8:14-18 14 Jesus 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 and where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I am judging no one. 16 And yet if I judge, My judgment is true, for I am not alone; it is I and the Father who sent Me. 17 And also in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”

What is Jesus saying in John 8:14?
Even if He is alone as a witness, His testimony is valid because He is someone to whom their legal standard doesn't apply.

Is it true that Jesus is judging “no one" as He stated in John 8:15?
Jesus has full authority to judge - And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) - but didn't use it during this - His first - earthly ministry. Instead of judging and condemning the world, He came to save it this time. But if they don’t believe in Him, they will end up judged and condemned by their own unbelief. And when Jesus returns the second time, He will judge, for He is “God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:1).

What is He adding in John 8:16-18?
Even according to their legal standard, His testimony is valid because the second witness is God the Father in heaven.

JOHN 8:19-20 19 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.” 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury as He taught in the temple; and no one arrested Him, for His hour had not yet come.

What is the flipside of Jesus' words: “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also” (John 8:19)?
Those who don't know Jesus don't know God the Father.

Why didn’t they arrest Him?
“His hour had not yet come” (John 8:20).