John 8:12–20 Sermon

John 8:12–20 ESV

12 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.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 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. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 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. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 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.” 20 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.

Introduction

John 8:12–30 ESV

12 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.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 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. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 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. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 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.” 20 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. 21 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.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 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.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 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. 29 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.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

In chapter 7 we see Jesus during the feast of booths.

Here we see that there were those who wanted to arrest Him for the claims He had made about Himself.

He said in ,

John 7:28–29 ESV

28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”

They (the Pharisees) sent officers to arrest Him and Jesus continued to say in ,

John 7:36 ESV

36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

Then He stood up and cried out on the last day of the feast,

John 7:37–38 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

This caused people to question Him. Whether He was the Prophet or the Christ. Some questioned Him because of Him living in Galilee when the prophecy of the Messiah was that He would be from Bethlehem. They of course didn’t know that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem.

Even within the Pharisees there were questions.

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus in John chapter 3, pushed back on the Pharisees who wanted to arrest Jesus without a fair process.

Jesus in our text was speaking to the Jews who were at the temple and it was to leaders who believed that Jesus was born in Galilee which prophetically speaking the Prophet promised was to be born in Bethlehem. Which is where Jesus was born.

And it was to leaders who believed that Jesus was born in Galilee which prophetically speaking the Prophet promised was to be born in Bethlehem. Which is where Jesus was born.

This all happened during the time of the feast of booths.

The Westminster Bible Dictionary Tabernacles, The Feast of

Tabernacles, The Feast of, called also “the feast of ingathering” (Ex. 23:16), was the third of the three great festivals of the Hebrews, which lasted from the fifteenth till the twenty-second of Tisri. The time of the festival fell in the autumn, when the whole of the chief fruits of the ground, the corn, the wine and the oil, had been gathered in (Lev. 23:39; Deut. 16:13–15). Its duration was seven days strictly (Deut. 16:13; Ezek. 45:25). During these days the Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths or huts formed of the boughs of trees (Lev. 23:40–43). The feast of tabernacles was to be at once a thanksgiving for the harvest and a commemoration of the time when the Israelites dwelt in tents during their passage through the wilderness.

The feast of booths (), was the third of the three great festivals of the Hebrews.

The time of the festival was celebrated in the fall where they would gather the chief fruits of the ground, the corn, the wine and the oil (; ).

The feast of booths was to be a commemoration of the time when the Israelites dwelt in tents during their travel through the wilderness.

During these days the Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths or huts formed of the boughs of trees (). The feast of tabernacles was to be at once a thanksgiving for the harvest and a commemoration of the time when the Israelites dwelt in tents during their passage through the wilderness.

At night, the people would would actually go into the temple area and they would light four huge lamps.

Who was Jesus speaking to in verse 12?

Opening Up John’s Gospel Party People (8:12–30)

Officially, the Feast was held as a celebration of God’s goodness in providing another harvest of dates, grapes and figs, but there were a number of additional elements that made this a special time. For one thing, everyone in Israel who could do so was expected to attend. For another, as we have seen, they were expected to live in booths they had made themselves out of branches, sticks and leaves.

Then at night, when darkness had enveloped the city, the people would make their way into the temple area, and there, in what was known as the Women’s Court, four huge lamps were lit. These were so large that it is reported that the wicks were made from the discarded linen robes that the priests wore. Apparently, the glow from these lamps could be seen throughout the city. Into that area came the temple musicians, and by the light of those huge lamps the people danced through the night, singing songs and praises, celebrating God’s goodness in its many forms. It was the biggest and the best of all the parties in Israel.

The lamps were large and they were made from the linen robes that the priests no longer used.

, and there, in what was known as the Women’s Court, four huge lamps were lit. These were so large that it is reported that the wicks were made from the discarded linen robes that the priests wore. Apparently, the glow from these lamps could be seen throughout the city. Into that area came the temple musicians, and by the light of those huge lamps the people danced through the night, singing songs and praises, celebrating God’s goodness in its many forms. It was the biggest and the best of all the parties in Israel.

Officially, the Feast was held as a celebration of God’s goodness in providing another harvest of dates, grapes and figs, but there were a number of additional elements that made this a special time.

Officially, the Feast was held as a celebration of God’s goodness in providing another harvest of dates, grapes and figs, but there were a number of additional elements that made this a special time.

For one thing, everyone in Israel who could do so was expected to attend. For another, as we have seen, they were expected to live in booths they had made themselves out of branches, sticks and leaves.

The light from these lamps could be seen throughout the city.

Then at night, when darkness had enveloped the city, the people would make their way into the temple area, and there, in what was known as the Women’s Court, four huge lamps were lit. These were so large that it is reported that the wicks were made from the discarded linen robes that the priests wore. Apparently, the glow from these lamps could be seen throughout the city. Into that area came the temple musicians, and by the light of those huge lamps the people danced through the night, singing songs and praises, celebrating God’s goodness in its many forms. It was the biggest and the best of all the parties in Israel.

Opening Up John’s Gospel Party People (8:12–30)

Officially, the Feast was held as a celebration of God’s goodness in providing another harvest of dates, grapes and figs, but there were a number of additional elements that made this a special time. For one thing, everyone in Israel who could do so was expected to attend. For another, as we have seen, they were expected to live in booths they had made themselves out of branches, sticks and leaves.

Then at night, when darkness had enveloped the city, the people would make their way into the temple area, and there, in what was known as the Women’s Court, four huge lamps were lit. These were so large that it is reported that the wicks were made from the discarded linen robes that the priests wore. Apparently, the glow from these lamps could be seen throughout the city. Into that area came the temple musicians, and by the light of those huge lamps the people danced through the night, singing songs and praises, celebrating God’s goodness in its many forms. It was the biggest and the best of all the parties in Israel.

The temple musicians would play their music during the night.

And the lamps that they lit provided them light while they danced through the night, singing songs and praises, commemorating God’s deliverance from Egypt.

It was the biggest and the best of all the parties in Israel.

Jesus of course knowing this and being there would say what He said in our text! And His listeners according to the feast being celebrated could link what Jesus said according to what they were celebrating.

What Jesus would say, is that He was the light not just to the Jews but for the world.

Which is very what I want to look into first today.

Verse 20 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.

The feast of booths and light used in it.

1. Jesus. The light of the world (v.12)

Verse 12 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.”

Our passage today begins with Jesus making a statement about Himself.

Verse 12 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.”

Jesus said, He is the light of the world.

He is the light of the world.

It’s important to note what was said already in this gospel pertaining to the light.

Light is spoken of 24 times in the gospel of John. And in all of them it is speaking of Jesus as light.

s speaking Jesus as light.

In we have John writing about this in his opening.

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus being the light of the world means that He (according to ) is the life that the world needs.

Remember that the passage today is taking place at around the time of the feast of booths.

And during this feast they would light lampstands which was to symbolize the light of God.

The feast was celebrated by the Jews to to remember the wilderness journey from Egypt to Canaan, when God made the people live in booths ().

This was only celebrated by the Jews but notice what Jesus said.

Notice that Jesus said the world.

“I am the light of the world.

Jesus said “I am the light of the world.” Which broadens the light which is life to shine not only on the Jews but the world.

Which broadens the light which is life to more than just the Jews.

In Luke’s account we see Simeon who made a statement pertaining to Jesus when He was presented in the temple.

Luke 2:25–32 ESV

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon remembered what the Scriptures spoke of concerning the promise in and .

Jesus was the light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of the people Israel.

Jesus was making this statement not only for His listeners, but it was a statement concerning what was promised not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles.

Thus Jesus saying that He was the light of the world.

The world was meant to refer to whoever followed Him.

And those who would follow Him would not walk in darkness, but would have the light of life.

Specifically, it would be those drawn by the Father to Son to have life.

There are two things that happen when one follows the Christ who is light which is life.

First, Whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness

So what does darkness mean?

It was mostly used not in a literal sense. Darkness occurs nine times in the gospel of John.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Let’s look at some verses to see how it was used.

John 3:19 ESV

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 1:5 ESV

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

So darkness here is loved because their works were evil.

Evil works here are the cause of people’s love for the darkness.

People loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

They loved the darkness rather than the light.

So if the light is life than they did not have life.

So if light is life than darkness would be no life.

John 12:35 ESV

35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

The darkness here can overtake someone.

The result of someone who is overtaken by the darkness is that they will not know where they are going. Meaning that they are blind and unable to see.

This is the condition of someone who is without life. They are blind and lost.

And those who walk in the darkness does not know where they are going.

So darkness here is the condition of someone not being able to see where they are going.

John 12:46 ESV

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Here, someone who does not believe in Christ is someone who remains in darkness.

Here, someone who believes in Christ will not remain in the darkness.

So darkness is the condition of someone who:

Loves the darkness rather than the light which is life

Darkness is the condition of someone who is overtaken by the darkness proving that they are blind and cannot know where they are going

Darkness is the condition of someone who does not believe in Jesus Christ proving that they do not have life

that place where there are those who have not believed in Christ.

People who’s works are evil, who do not know where they are going are those who are in darkness. Meaning those who have not believed.

And because the light is life, the darkness is where there is no life.

Darkness is the state of unbelief. It is descriptive of someone who does not have life. Which happens when one does not believe in Christ who is the light of the world.

Or we can also say the life that the world needs.

But those who follow Christ do not walk in darkness.

Those who believe in Christ are those who:

Love Christ and darkness is no longer the condition of those who believe

Those who believe in Christ are those who are not overtaken by the darkness (we are not those who do not know where we are going) we do no who we are going to

are not overtaken by the darkness (we no longer are those who do not know where we are going)

Those who believe in Christ are those who have come to saving faith and now have life in the light of Christ

We are now those who do know where we are going

When Jesus said He is the light of the world, He was referring to the nations. The world.

We have a hope and we can see

He was again, fulfilling the promise given that would extend to the Gentiles.

We are those who believe

We are not those who stumble in the night

We are those who stand in the light of Christ and are now living

This is the result of saving faith in Christ.

The second thing that would happen to those who follow Christ is that they would have the light of life

John 3:20 ESV

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

There are two things that happen when one follows the Christ who is light which is life.

but will have the light of life.”

says, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed,” but we are those who have come to the light and our sin was exposed.

But we are those who have come to the light and our sin was exposed.

Yet, because of faith in Christ, our sin has been forgiven. We have been given life!

We have been given life!

Having the light of life means that our sin has been exposed but God would not leave us to our being exposed.

we have no reason to remain shamed because of our sin!

There is One who has been shamed openly, marked as a curse and condemned vicariously on our behalf!

This is why those who follow Christ have life and true freedom from the curse of the law.

Our sin was exposed but our Savior took our shame and gave us the right to become children of God.

But those who reject the light prove their love for their evil works and their hatred for Christ.

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.”

But we see in their response what being blind looks like.

A light to not just the Jews but to the world.

Jesus was the light to not just the Jews but to the world.

And those who follow Him will not walk in darkness. Those who believe and trust in Christ will not stumble in the darkness. But they will have the light of life. Which is Christ!

but will have the light of life.”

After Jesus making this statement, those who did not come to the light make are making a statement of their own that one would make apart from faith in Him.

The statement made in verse 13 shows us what those in darkness would say.

2. Man without the light (v.13)

Verse 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

If you remember Jesus had already proven Himself in .

John 5:31–32 ESV

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

The witnesses Jesus pointed out were:

The Father

John the Baptist

His own works

And the Scriptures

Jesus had what was required by the law pertaining to bearing witness ().

Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

What the Pharisees did in telling Jesus that His witness about Himself was not true, they revealed that they themselves did not believe.

Which proved that they were in darkness because in Christ was life.

This is what people without faith in Christ do.

John 1:9–11 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

They rejected Him. Showing that they were in darkness.

This goes against the false view of people being generally good.

What rejection of Christ proves is that one is still in darkness.

People use Jesus to try to make the case that He was a good teacher who loved everyone and didn’t offend anyone.

But Jesus did not leave that impression in His statements about Himself and about those who did not believe.

People are not generally good but we are all evil apart from saving faith.

Even the Pharisees who knew the Scriptures were those who were in darkness.

Their rejection proved that one could have even knowledge of the Scriptures and be blind.

John 5:39–40 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

This is a solemn warning to us today.

You can devotions and yet not be devoted to Christ

You can have knowledge and not know Christ

You can have theology without doxology (a heartfelt and genuine faith in God)

People in darkness can have these things.

But what separates those in darkness and those who have come to the light is that the ones who have come to the light have found life!

Through the Holy Spirit giving us life in causing us to be born again, we now desire and crave the Lord Jesus as bread! And we now live as those who have been satisfied!

And we now live as those who have been satisfied!

We are those who can see!

The truth of Jesus Christ is life to those who have been brought to saving faith!

We are those who believe in the testimony of Jesus Christ! Which is the reason for this gospel account!

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We have life because we have come to believe in the testimony of Jesus Christ! And we believe because it has been granted to us to believe!

The truth of Jesus Christ is true and those who the Father has drawn to the Son believe!

3. The truth of Jesus Christ (v.14-18)

Verse 14 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.

How do we reconcile what Jesus here in verse 14 with ,

John 5:31 ESV

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

John 5:30 ESV

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

In , Jesus was referring to the witnesses that He had in the Father, John the Baptist, His works and the Scriptures.

In our text today, He was referring to the truth of who He was. Because it was true, He could have testified Himself to what He was saying about Himself.

Jesus in our text in verse 14 is simply admitting to the truth of what He was saying.

In , He as referring to actually leaving out witnesses to His claim.

In verse 14, He is

If He did bear witness of Himself it would be true because what He was saying about Himself was true.

Jesus ins’t saying that He would leave it to the witness of Himself but that if He did, it would be true because He knew where He came from and where He was going.

He came from God the Father who sent Him and He was going to God the Father.

Jesus would not leave it to Himself to bear witness, He would appeal to the Father, John the Baptist, His works and the Scriptures. So it was something that He didn’t do.

What He was speaking of in our text today was the truth to His claims. Because it was true there really was no need to rebuttal.

The Father spoke from heaven at His baptism, John the Baptist prepared the way fulfilling what was prophesied, His works proved His Messianic ministry and He was fulfilling what the Scriptures said about the Prophet and Servant spoken of by Moses and Isaiah.

The inability of those who were listening to Jesus to believe is shown to us in verse 15.

Read Verse 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

Judging according to the flesh proves that one is attempting to judge what is true apart from the light necessary in order to judge correctly.

People in darkness cannot see. Thus their judgement is hindered because they judge according to the flesh.

Their conclusion in verse 13 was made because they were judging according to the flesh.

They would not be able to see what Jesus was saying when speaking of Himself as light because they were in darkness and they refused to come to the light.

John 8:16–18 ESV

16 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. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

Verse 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.

Verse 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”

Jesus speaks of the law in .

Jesus spoke of not judging anyone in verse 15.

He was talking about judging someone according to the flesh. Which Jesus did not do.

His judgement is true because Jesus judges according to the Father who sent Him.

Like in , Jesus tethered what He was doing to the Father.

His witness about Himself is true because the Father bears witness of Him.

This was proven at His baptism.

The truth of Jesus Christ is that He was sent by the Father but here we see men rejecting this testimony.

Those who are of the flesh are unable to discern spiritual things.

They do not know Jesus to be the Son sent by the Father thus not know God the Father.

When someone clearly rejects this truth they are testifying that they are in darkness.

That is why it is a great evil to cloak the gospel to those who are in darkness.

There is a way of thinking out there that we should be covertly Christian

There is a way of thinking that we should appeal first to the culture and then introduce the gospel in a way that is acceptable and relevant

Churches have lost a biblical anthropology that correctly sees man apart from faith as not just lost, but in rebellion towards God

Being in darkness does not just mean that man is lost but that man loved the darkness rather than the light

When preaching the gospel we are giving man the answer to their sin sick soul that is hostile towards God

We cannot forget the truth about what man is apart from saving faith. Namely, man apart from saving faith is in rebellion to the truth of who Jesus Christ is.

4. The truth of man without Christ (v.19)

4.

Verse 19a They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?”

Verse 19b Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

Do you know Jesus?

Verse 20 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.

Verse 21 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.”

The truth is that apart from faith in Christ you are not a child of God.

Verse 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

It has been said that we are all children of God. That the whole world, everyone living are children of God.

Verse 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

But that is not what Jesus says later in this chapter.

Verse 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

We are called to speak the truth of Jesus Christ because it is that truth that saves when believed.

There is a reason why Jesus said He was the light of the world. He spoke of light because there is darkness.

The light of Christ is life. And the darkness is having no life.

Believing in the gospel, placing your faith in Jesus Christ is what gives us life and hope.

Apart from that we have no hope and no life.

But thanks be to God that He has given us hope in the gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For those of us

Verse 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.

Verse 26 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.”

Verse 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.

Verse 28 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.

Verse 29 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.”

Verse 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.