Jesus Is the Light of the World

¹² Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world [^Cthe Feast of Shelters included a lamp lighting ritual that Jesus may be alluding to; 7:37–39]. The person who follows me will never ·live [^Lwalk] in darkness but will have the light ·that gives life [^Lof life].”

¹³ The Pharisees [see 1:24] said to Jesus, “When you ·talk [testify; witness] about yourself, ·you are the only one to say these things are true. We cannot accept what you say [^Lyour testimony/witness is not true/valid; 5:31].”

¹⁴ Jesus answered, “Yes, I am ·saying these things [witnessing; testifying] about myself, but they are true [valid]. I know where I came from [^Cfrom the Father or “from above”] and where I am going. But you don’t know where I came from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge ·by human standards [^Taccording to the flesh; ^Crather than guided by the Spirit]. I am not judging anyone. ¹⁶ But ·when [if] I do judge, ·I judge truthfully [^Lmy judgment is true], because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. ¹⁷ Your own law says that ·when two witnesses say the same thing, you must accept what they say [^Lthe testimony of two witnesses is true/valid; Deut. 17:6; 19:15]. ¹⁸ I am one of the witnesses who speaks about myself, and the Father who sent me is the other witness.”

¹⁹ [^LTherefore] They asked him, “Where is your father?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t know me or my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father, too.” ²⁰ Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Temple [courts], near ·where the money is kept [the treasury; offering box]. But no one ·arrested [seized] him, because ·the right time for him [^Lhis hour; see 2:4] had not yet come.