Jesus spoke to them again, 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 testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because 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 by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. 18 I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” 19 So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
At the Feast of Tabernacles, there is a nightly celebration of light in the temple. While Jesus was teaching in the treasury in the temple area, he told the Jews that he supersedes the light of the temple and is the light of the whole world (Is. 42:6). He replaces the light from the temple as the true source of light. This is reminiscent of the pillar of light (fire) that guided the Israelites during the Exodus (Ex. 13:21). In the first chapter of John, the evangelist declared, “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (Jn. 1:9).” Those who come to Jesus come to the light and receive power to become children of God (Jn. 1:12), but those who do not accept him and commit evil deeds, prefer darkness and reject the gifts of light and life (Jn. 1:4). Jesus is the light that enlightens our minds to divine revelation, and he is also the light that enables us to accept the revelation and live by it.
Jesus is challenged by the Jews because they do not accept self-testimony since it cannot be verified (Jn. 5:31). Jesus can testify on his own behalf because his testimony was confirmed by the miracles and wonders that he worked. Jesus knows his origin and his destiny, but the Jews do not know about either and judge and condemn him based on how they perceive him in the hardness of their hearts. His Father can also verify his testimony: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him (Lk. 9:35).” The Father sent him and he is not alone. Jesus neither judges nor condemns but if he did judge his judgment would be true because the authority to judge has been given to him by his Father (Jn. 5:22). Jesus and the Father testify on his behalf so the legal requirement for valid testimony is met (Deut. 19:15). Jesus witnessed by his words and the Father witnesses by his miracles.
Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me (Jn. 12:44).” The Pharisees rejected Jesus so they could not hear or know the Father through the words or works of Jesus. They could not arrest Jesus because his Father did not permit it at that time.
Almighty God, enlighten our minds to your truths and help us to live by them. Send your Holy Spirit upon us with the fire of your divine love that we may set aflame all who desire to know and love you and spread the Gospel of salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments