John 8:12-20

J.B. Phillips New Testament

Jesus’ bold claims—about himself—and his Father

¹² Later, Jesus spoke to the people again and said, “I am the light of the world. The man who follows me will never walk in the dark but will live his life in the light.”

¹³ This made the Pharisees say to him, “You are testifying to yourself—your evidence is not valid.”

^14-18 Jesus answered, “Even if I am testifying to myself, my evidence is valid, for I know where I have come from and I know where I am going. But as for you, you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You are judging by human standards, but I am not judging anyone. Yet if I should judge, my decision would be just, for I am not alone—the Father who sent me is with me. In your Law, it is stated that the witness of two persons is valid. I am one testifying to myself and the second witness to me is the Father who sent me.”

¹⁹ “And where is this father of yours?” they replied. “You do not know my Father,” returned Jesus, “any more than you know me: if you had known me, you would have known him.”

²⁰ Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the Temple treasury. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not yet come.