John 8:12-20
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Observations for living today:
Jesus was then and is now the light of the “whole world”, not just the Jewish nation. This probably added insult to injury to the elitist leadership, who thought they were the only ones, the chosen nation, to have God’s light within them. This moment shows what will always happen when the divine purpose is hijacked by human interests, it goes off track and has the opposite effect for those who are trying to implement it. God’s purpose to show Himself to the world through the Jewish nation, to be a beacon of hope/life was in fact happening, in spite of the actions of those who had become focused on national pride and survival (Ez 34). They missed their opportunity to help fulfill God’s purpose, by failing to know God’s character they could not see the big picture of God’s plan. Their failure did not stop God’s plan from being successful, it only stop their participation in God's plan. God has not abandoned His chosen people nor the nation of Israel; Paul understood this and as difficult as it is to understand some of what he wrote, it is clear the blindness covering their understanding of Jesus will be removed eventually—they are and always will be loved by God.
The light of life—never in darkness! But for all who believe and follow Jesus, regardless of national heritage, the opportunity to participate in fulfilling God's purpose is an absolute reality (cf. John 1:1-5, 9-18; 12:44-50). When you accept/believe Jesus, God’s light shines on you and you have access to His life; do not believe and you are walking in darkness, dead to what God can do for you. The darkness you live in blinds you to the opportunity surrounding you, but you cannot eliminate or overcome the truth. You do not stop God’s purpose from happening, you only fail to be a part of it.
The leadership of the day attacked Jesus with a legal argument requiring a witness to prove what He said was true. Their argument: Who else believes you or stands-up for what you say? His answer: My Father, God! To which their immediate reply, most likely thinking of His father Joseph, “where is your Father?” Clear example of the difference between divine vs human logic.
Not the first time they have had this argument; many have already acknowledged “this man is from God” for no one has ever done what He can do! His answer, therefore, did not address their question, but was a precise commentary on their error in judgement: they did not know God; thus, they could not know Him nor understand anything He taught them.
There is only one way to know God: He has to reveal the truth of Himself. No person has seen the invisible God, save Adam, Enoch, and Moses. Adam was created and spent a significant time with God before being exiled. Enoch pleased God and was afforded the privilege of avoiding death and walking with God. And finally, Moses saw God pass by, observing His glory, before sitting face to face with Him in the tent of meeting. No other human, but the Christ, have experienced any significant firsthand knowledge of God. These antagonists denied their scriptural heritage and rejected the testimony of all the prophets who foretold, according to the Spirit of God speaking through them, the message of the messiah’s coming. Had they any part of the faith they claimed to profess, they would have just as Abraham and Moses, believed the one sent by God sanding before them in the temple that day.
John’s recurring theme: eternal life comes through believing Jesus’ message. Believe Jesus and you will know and understand God; if you know one you will know the other, because they reference each other, they are the same — John 17!
Reality in Christ:
When you believe Jesus, know what He taught and follow His teachings you will walk in God’s light, and more importantly, not only know God, but be known and love by God—being one with God, always in His light-forever.
Life lived trusting God—absolutely no disadvantages—all things considered; don’t stop short of recognizing how things will playout. A line in the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) captures this idea clearly, "In India we have a saying, 'Everything will be alright in the end'... so if its not alright, it is not yet the end".
Consider some well-known examples of those who live with the end in mind:
Farmer – cultivating crop/patience waiting – crop harvested – life contained in fruit of harvest
Athlete – training/effort expended running – victory won – honor in crown of victory
Mother – 9 months carrying/pain felt birthing – baby born – joy of new life/hope
As a Christian knowing my reality in Christ is an absolute truth, I know God loves me just as He loves His only begotten Son, and nothing can happen to me outside of this truth. So, everything that happens will be beneficial to God's purpose, and that in the end is more than good; I cannot be separated from God and His love (Ro 8:38).
Prayer: Father, life can be hard and scary, but in everything we know you love us and care for us. We also know the enemy of God is trying to destroy our love for you. Give us strength to continue the fight to hang on to the message your Son gave us, to never let it fade from our conscious, but give us more of your Holy Spirit to guide us daily and never fail to love you back. When we are tired, fill us with hope, when we hurt, touch us with healing and restore our strength to get though the days trial. Guide us to your truth and open our eyes so we can understand our next step and how to show how much we trust you. We know you are in absolute control and will always look out for us, help us when we doubt and are distracted, to turn back and show we do love you.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."
Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."
Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"
"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Observations for living today:
Jesus was then and is now the light of the “whole world”, not just the Jewish nation. This probably added insult to injury to the elitist leadership, who thought they were the only ones, the chosen nation, to have God’s light within them. This moment shows what will always happen when the divine purpose is hijacked by human interests, it goes off track and has the opposite effect for those who are trying to implement it. God’s purpose to show Himself to the world through the Jewish nation, to be a beacon of hope/life was in fact happening, in spite of the actions of those who had become focused on national pride and survival (Ez 34). They missed their opportunity to help fulfill God’s purpose, by failing to know God’s character they could not see the big picture of God’s plan. Their failure did not stop God’s plan from being successful, it only stop their participation in God's plan. God has not abandoned His chosen people nor the nation of Israel; Paul understood this and as difficult as it is to understand some of what he wrote, it is clear the blindness covering their understanding of Jesus will be removed eventually—they are and always will be loved by God.
The light of life—never in darkness! But for all who believe and follow Jesus, regardless of national heritage, the opportunity to participate in fulfilling God's purpose is an absolute reality (cf. John 1:1-5, 9-18; 12:44-50). When you accept/believe Jesus, God’s light shines on you and you have access to His life; do not believe and you are walking in darkness, dead to what God can do for you. The darkness you live in blinds you to the opportunity surrounding you, but you cannot eliminate or overcome the truth. You do not stop God’s purpose from happening, you only fail to be a part of it.
The leadership of the day attacked Jesus with a legal argument requiring a witness to prove what He said was true. Their argument: Who else believes you or stands-up for what you say? His answer: My Father, God! To which their immediate reply, most likely thinking of His father Joseph, “where is your Father?” Clear example of the difference between divine vs human logic.
Not the first time they have had this argument; many have already acknowledged “this man is from God” for no one has ever done what He can do! His answer, therefore, did not address their question, but was a precise commentary on their error in judgement: they did not know God; thus, they could not know Him nor understand anything He taught them.
There is only one way to know God: He has to reveal the truth of Himself. No person has seen the invisible God, save Adam, Enoch, and Moses. Adam was created and spent a significant time with God before being exiled. Enoch pleased God and was afforded the privilege of avoiding death and walking with God. And finally, Moses saw God pass by, observing His glory, before sitting face to face with Him in the tent of meeting. No other human, but the Christ, have experienced any significant firsthand knowledge of God. These antagonists denied their scriptural heritage and rejected the testimony of all the prophets who foretold, according to the Spirit of God speaking through them, the message of the messiah’s coming. Had they any part of the faith they claimed to profess, they would have just as Abraham and Moses, believed the one sent by God sanding before them in the temple that day.
John’s recurring theme: eternal life comes through believing Jesus’ message. Believe Jesus and you will know and understand God; if you know one you will know the other, because they reference each other, they are the same — John 17!
Reality in Christ:
When you believe Jesus, know what He taught and follow His teachings you will walk in God’s light, and more importantly, not only know God, but be known and love by God—being one with God, always in His light-forever.
Life lived trusting God—absolutely no disadvantages—all things considered; don’t stop short of recognizing how things will playout. A line in the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) captures this idea clearly, "In India we have a saying, 'Everything will be alright in the end'... so if its not alright, it is not yet the end".
Consider some well-known examples of those who live with the end in mind:
Farmer – cultivating crop/patience waiting – crop harvested – life contained in fruit of harvest
Athlete – training/effort expended running – victory won – honor in crown of victory
Mother – 9 months carrying/pain felt birthing – baby born – joy of new life/hope
As a Christian knowing my reality in Christ is an absolute truth, I know God loves me just as He loves His only begotten Son, and nothing can happen to me outside of this truth. So, everything that happens will be beneficial to God's purpose, and that in the end is more than good; I cannot be separated from God and His love (Ro 8:38).
Prayer: Father, life can be hard and scary, but in everything we know you love us and care for us. We also know the enemy of God is trying to destroy our love for you. Give us strength to continue the fight to hang on to the message your Son gave us, to never let it fade from our conscious, but give us more of your Holy Spirit to guide us daily and never fail to love you back. When we are tired, fill us with hope, when we hurt, touch us with healing and restore our strength to get though the days trial. Guide us to your truth and open our eyes so we can understand our next step and how to show how much we trust you. We know you are in absolute control and will always look out for us, help us when we doubt and are distracted, to turn back and show we do love you.
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