Introduction

John 8:12–20: John’s Gospel includes seven of Jesus’s “I Am” sayings (6:35, 48; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:5), and today’s reading begins with one of them. The religious leaders ask Jesus about his father and accuse him of testifying on his own behalf.

Today’s Key Verse: John 8:12b

“I am the light of the world,” [Jesus] said. “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”

Reading

12 Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. “I am the light of the world,” he said. “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”

13 The Pharisees said to him, “Now you are testifying on your own behalf; what you say proves nothing.”

14 “No,” Jesus answered, “even though I do testify on my own behalf, what I say is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You make judgments in a purely human way; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I were to do so, my judgment would be true, because I am not alone in this; the Father who sent me is with me. 17 It is written in your Law that when two witnesses agree, what they say is true. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me also testifies on my behalf.”

19 “Where is your father?” they asked him.

“You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

20 Jesus said all this as he taught in the Temple, in the room where the offering boxes were placed. And no one arrested him, because his hour had not come.

Reflect

Reread verse 12. What does it mean to you to “have the light of life” by following Jesus? Reread verses 14–18. How does Jesus respond to the religious leaders who accuse him of testifying on his own behalf? How does Jesus respond when he is asked about his Father (verse 19)?

Pray

Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world, and I have the light of life because I am following you. You have revealed God’s love to me and made me a child of God. Teach me to live in the light of your love and to reflect your love in my daily encounters with others. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

John 8:21–30: The religious leaders continue to question Jesus about his Father.