Lent 2023: John 8:12-20

The Light of the World

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”

14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “My testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards.[a] I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?”

“You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

—John 8:12-20

Read & Journal

Read John 8:12-20. As you read, use these journal prompts to help you dig a little deeper into the passage:

• What does this passage teach you about Jesus—his identity, purpose or character? Explain.

• In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ “I am” statements depict Jesus’ identity and ministry. What does “I am the light of the world” reveal?

• The previous chapters of John tell us that the Jewish people had just celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles, also known as the Festival of Shelters or the Feast of Lights. Many of the ceremonies performed during the festival involved various kinds of lighting, including lighting candles and filling 16 bowls in the inner court of the temple with oil and lighting them. In the shadow of these lights, Jesus stood and proclaimed that he was the light of the world. How is the light Jesus gives different from those lights?

• Jesus spoke these words in the Treasury of the temple, where candles burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that had guided the Israelites in the wilderness, a visible symbol of God’s presence, protection and guidance. So why was it important that Jesus claimed to be the source of that light?

• In claiming to be the source, Jesus was claiming to be God. How has he been present in your life this week? How has he protected you? When and how has he guided you?

• How will you allow the light of Christ to shine in your life this week?