What does John 8:12-20 mean?

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. (John 8:12-20 KJV)

I Am the Light of the World

The rest of the chapter is taken up with debates between Christ and contradicting sinners, who argued against the most gracious words that came from his mouth. It is not certain whether these disputes were the same day the adulteress was discharged; it is probable they were, for the evangelist mentions no other day and notes in John 8:2 how early Christ began that day’s work. Though those Pharisees who accused the woman had slipped away, there were other Pharisees (John 8:13) to confront Christ, who had the boldness to keep up appearances, though some of their group had made a shameful retreat. Perhaps that made them more determined to find fault with him, to restore the reputation of their defeated party.

A great doctrine is laid down, with its application. The doctrine is that Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12): Then Jesus spoke again to them; though he had said much to them with little effect, and what he had said was opposed, yet he spoke again. They had turned a deaf ear, and yet he said, “I am the light of the world.” One rabbi said, “Light is the name of the Messiah,” as in Daniel 2:22, “Light dwells with him.” God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. He was expected to be a light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32), and so the light of the world, not just of the Jewish church. The visible light of the world is the sun, and Christ is the Sun of righteousness. One sun enlightens the whole world, so does one Christ. In calling himself the light, he expresses what he is in himself—excellent and glorious—and what he is to the world—the fountain of light, enlightening every person. What a dungeon the world would be without the sun! So would it be without Christ, by whom light came into the world (John 3:19).

The inference from this doctrine is, “He that follows me, as a traveler follows the light in a dark night, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” If Christ is the light, then it is our duty to follow him, to submit to his guidance, and take directions from him in the way to happiness. Many follow false lights that lead them to destruction, but Christ is the true light. It is not enough to look at this light; we must follow it, believe in it, and walk in it. Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness; they will have the light of life, the knowledge and enjoyment of God, which will be the light of spiritual life now and of everlasting life later.

The Pharisees objected, saying, “You bear witness of yourself; your witness is not true” (John 8:13). They assumed self-testimony is just self-love, but in this case the objection was unjust. They made it a fault that he testified about himself, which in the case of divine revelation was necessary. Moses and the prophets bore witness to themselves when they declared they were God’s messengers. They also ignored the many other witnesses who confirmed his testimony.

Christ replied (John 8:14) by defending himself. Though in John 5:31 he had waived his own testimony, here he affirms it, for the light is self-evident. First principles prove themselves. He gives three reasons his testimony was true and convincing:

1. He was fully aware of his own authority and confident in it. “I know where I came from and where I am going.” He knew he came from the Father and was going to him (John 16:28; 17:5).
2. They were incompetent judges of him and his doctrine. First, they were willfully ignorant: “You cannot tell where I came from and where I am going.” He had told them of his heavenly origin and destiny, but it was foolishness to them (Psalm 92:6). They judged matters they did not understand. Second, they judged by outward appearance (John 8:15). Because he appeared poor and humble, they thought it impossible he could be the light of the world. Third, they were unjust toward him: “I judge no man”—that is, not now in my first coming, which is for salvation, not judgment (John 3:17).
3. His testimony was supported by the Father (John 8:16): “If I judge, my judgment is true,” for he was not alone, but the Father was with him. The Father’s counsel and power were always with him (Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 42:1; Zechariah 6:13; Psalm 89:21). If Christ was sent by the Father, and the Father was present in all his work, his judgment was valid.

As a witness, his testimony was also valid. He quotes the law (John 8:17) that the testimony of two men is true (Deuteronomy 17:6; Numbers 35:30). He applies it (John 8:18): “I am one who bears witness of myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness of me.” If two human witnesses are accepted, much more the united testimony of the Father and the Son (1 John 5:7). This shows the Father and Son are distinct persons yet equal in power and glory, the same in essence.

This was the first exchange between Christ and these Jews. Their tongues were let loose, but their hands were tied.

First, their tongues were let loose to cavil at his words (John 8:19): “Where is your Father?” They pretended to misunderstand, as if he spoke of an earthly father, and mocked the obscurity of his family.

He answered with further conviction: “You neither know me nor my Father.” They knew God as Creator but not as the Father revealed in Christ (Psalm 76:1; 1 John 2:13). If they had known Christ, they would have known the Father (John 14:9). Where the Christian faith is rejected, even natural religion will be lost; those who will not learn of Christ become vain in their ideas about God.

Second, their hands were tied. Jesus spoke these words in the treasury of the temple, where the chief priests were often present. They might easily have seized him or silenced him, but no one laid hands on him because his hour had not yet come.

1. God restrained his persecutors by invisible power. He can set bounds to the wrath of men as to the sea.
2. The reason: his hour was not yet come. The time of our departure depends on God’s counsel and decree (Psalm 31:15). Our enemies cannot hasten it nor our friends delay it. His hour was not yet come because his work was not yet finished.