Jesus, The Light Of The World (J32)

Jesus taught the Jews and the Pharisees.
“I am the light of the world; who believes,
His pathway he always clearly sees;
Never will the darkness his way deceives!”
They protested, “But we must hear from two,
To make valid the things you testify!”
“There are two; many times have I told you
Who sent me; He also testifies with I!
You are from below; I am from above;
You are from the earth; I’m not from the earth;
Until you believe, my Father won’t love;
You will be judged lost and of no worth!”
Jesus’ words did not seem to impress them,
But many common Jews trusted in Him!

Here are portions of Scripture, each followed by a commentary, from the text of John 8:12-30. Please read it all in your Bible.

" ‘In your 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. “Who is your 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.” (John 8:17-20)

Many temple guards were always stationed near the offering jars. But the invisible power of Jesus continued to protect Him from arrest, for it was too early for Him to die. He was prophesied by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:18-19 to be the last prophet; this is why He insisted so many times that His Father had told Him what to say and was one of His witnesses. This same supporting witness was what made the earlier prophets’ testimony valid. That is why He repeatedly said, “My Father sent me”—the Pharisees, of all Jews, should have identified Him as a prophet.

“ ‘Who are you?” they asked. ‘Just what I have been claiming all along,’ Jesus replied … ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know I am the one I claim to be, and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me; he has not left me alone for I always do what pleases him. (John 8:29-31)

By the title “Son of Man” Jesus called Himself 81 times in the four gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. Some believe the Pharisees would have identified Him more readily if He had called Himself “Messiah” (meaning “the Christ” or King); or “the Son of God”; perhaps they would have. The reason He used “Son of Man” so often is that it should have been very recognizable to all Jews, because of Daniel’s prophecy (See Daniel 7:13) that this would be the name of the Messiah. It was Jesus’ favorite name for Himself.

By the expression “lifted up”, Jesus meant His crucifixion. If the leading Jews had an epiphany after Jesus died on the cross, we don’t know anything about it. The Jews, to this very day, deny that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah; they are still waiting for Him to come the first time. However, the Bible prophesies that when Jesus Christ returns to earth in glory and power, all Christians will be resurrected and He will pour out His grace on the Jews (See Zechariah 12:10-14); they will mourn for the Savior they rejected and killed; they will accept Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah; and the majority will evangelize for Jesus throughout the world!

"That if you confess with your mouth, ’Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)