“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN” ST. JOHN 8:12-32

Christ, The Great Light of the World

In the previous verses, we were introduced to Christ’s meeting with an adulterous woman and the vicious attack made by her enemies.  In that lesson, we discussed that their chief aim or purpose for bringing her was to discredit Jesus before the people, thinking that they could trap Him, for St. John 8:6 says: “This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.”  With peerless wisdom, our Lord disarmed them by presenting the law for which they tried to condemn the adulterous woman; thus instead of the adulterous woman being condemned, they were condemned (v. 9).  This woman had received a reprieve from Jesus, for her life was completely pardoned (v. 11).  In verse 12, after Christ’s meeting with the adulterous woman and that of her accusers, He resumes His teaching session which started in verse 2 and interrupted in verse 3.  His enemies’ cruel interruption of Christ’s teaching session did not distract Him from teaching the people.  Verse 12, brings us to Christ’s second “I am” statement.

This statement deserves our caution consideration.  Christ is the moral illumination (light) of all men; however, He is only the spiritual light to those who believe.  Christ is the only hope of mankind, for He is the only source of eternal life.  Because our Lord had made such a profound claim to Deity in the “I am” statement of v. 12, the Pharisees in verse 13 are seen combating His statement or claim.  In fact, their vehement rejection of His statement, evidenced that they repudiated or denied His personhood.  Nevertheless, in Christ’s reply to them in verse 14, Christ maintained that His witness was true or valid, and also stated that in verse 15 that His critics were judging according to outward appearance.  These critics of Christ in verse 15 had formed their conclusion of Him according to the flesh, but our Lord judges according to spiritual principles.

Having stated that He judges according to spiritual principles, Christ asserts His absolute and complete oneness with the Father by saying: “I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me” (v. 16).  Citing the Mosaic law, Christ stated that the law required the testimony of two witnesses to substantiate the truth.  To validate that His witness was true or valid, Christ appealed to the witness of the Father, as well as the witness of Himself (v. 18).  Verse 19 brings to bear the utter darkness of the hearts of His critics; thus, it also proves that His critics could not receive His witness because they did not know the Father.  Although, the Pharisees were bitterly angry with Christ, they were powerless to implement their venomous design to kill Christ until God permitted it (v. 20).  These solemn words in verse 21 are indeed tragic.  Because of His critics’ utter unbelief, they will never dwell with Him.  In other words, to dwell with Christ, one must be righteous through faith in Christ; moreover, one can only gain righteousness through God’s substitute for sin – the Lord Jesus (II Corinthians 5:21).

The questions posed by Christ’s critics further evidenced or proved that they were natural men, not able to discern spiritual things (v. 22).  In verse 23, Christ is citing the reason why His critics did not understand His word nor receive His witness.   The reason being: “There is a vast gulf between Himself and them; they are earthly and He was from above.”  Continuing His discourse, Christ continued to insist that if His critics reject His witness, they will “die in their sins” (v. 24).  The reliable testimony of Christ was true (v. 25), and was in total agreement with what the Father said (. 26).  It is fairly evident from verse 27 that Christ’s critics needed to be spiritually illuminated to understand spiritual things.  Christ’s full vindication of Himself will be manifested at the cross, and the manifestations of His Divine glory thereafter would prove clearly that He is the Messiah (v. 28).

Although His critics were spiritually blind and regarded Him as an impostor, Christ knew that He met the Father’s approval and would be completely vindicated (v. 29).  Although His critics were impressed with His words, we have no evidence that they believed to the saving of their souls (v. 30).  In verse 31, Christ declared the genuine mark of a disciple is his continuance in His word, and genuine disciples of Christ have been spiritually set free (v. 32).  May God bless!