We all have a story. Every story is unique and different. Every story is real. When it comes to telling others about Jesus, the best method is to tell your story. Share your testimony. Tell how your life has been changed by the power of the Gospel. No one can argue with your story.

                All throughout the Gospel of John we see Jesus testifying concerning Himself. He tells His story and makes claim to who He is and what He came to do. The context of the text at hand is at the feast of tabernacles. This was a time of celebration that commemorated the coming out of Egypt and the journey to the promised land. The Jewish people would set up booths to stay in and the celebration would last for seven days. After explaining to the people how He was the living water, Jesus spoke yet again. As He speaks, Jesus testifies concerning who He is and the way to life.

                The Light of the World. The first thing that Jesus testifies is that He is the light of the world and those who come to that light will have life. This statement of Jesus is all the more powerful in light of the context of His statement. The New American Commentary explains: “On the first night of Tabernacles and apparently on each night of the feast except on Sabbath, the worshipers awaited the signal of the special lighting of the festive golden lamps of Tabernacles in the court of women. The lamps were intended to remind worshipers of God’s leading the people of Israel through the wilderness at night by a pillar of fire. The lighting of lamps also signaled Israel’s recommitment to the God of light, and it was accompanied by festive music of the Levites and special dancing by chosen men of piety.”^[1] You can imagine how Jesus’ statement to be the light of the world caught the attention of those around Him. No doubt, the Pharisees saw this claim as simply outrageous. Jesus claimed to be the light itself. The Jewish people knew that only the Creator Himself could make such a claim. Jesus’ claim went even further. As Jesus says that those who follow the light will not walk in darkness, it is understood to be a reference to the wilderness wanderings when God guided the children of Israel through the wilderness. Jesus was essentially identifying Himself as the one who led their ancestors through the wilderness. He was “identifying Himself clearly with the God who gave Israel this Feast of Tabernacles.”^[2] Such statements by Jesus brought many arguments from the Pharisees.

                There are several applications for you and I with Jesus being the light of the world. We are encouraged to walk in that light. But how? (1) By knowing Jesus. We walk in the light by believing in the light. By believing in Jesus. To walk in the light begins by coming to the light, who is Jesus. What about you? Have you come to the light? Have you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior? (2) By knowing His Word. We come to know Jesus by knowing His Word. His Word is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path that leads us to Him. Therefore, to walk in the light. To live in the light. We must be in the Word daily. The Word in flesh, Jesus Christ, is our source of light and life. He is the way of salvation. The written Word, the Bible, is the light that leads us in a life lived for Jesus. The Bible is our guidebook to life. It gives us instructions on how we are to live. We come to the light by believing on Jesus. We walk in the light by reading His Word.

                Came from Heaven. When His testimony is questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus continues to testify of Himself by stating that He came from Heaven. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of a false testimony claiming that He could not testify concerning Himself. But Jesus said that He knew where He came from and where He is going. The claim that He came from Heaven explains why He testified of Himself. The Faithlife Study Bible says, “No earthly witness is capable of testifying on His behalf because of His divine origin.”^[3] You cannot argue with someone that came from Heaven. Jesus tells the Pharisees that they have not right to question His testimony because they are lost. They don’t know where they came from or where they are going. As the light of the world, Jesus can lead them to the same place He came from if they would just believe in Him.

                Sent by the Father. Coming from Heaven, Jesus also testifies that it was the Father that sent Him. There is a discourse here regarding the issue of judgement. When Jesus’ testimony is questioned, He basically tells the Pharisees that they have no right to judge. He tells them that they judge according to human standards, but He did not come to judge and if He does judge, His judgement comes from the Father who sent Him. The New American Commentary shares light on this: “What is the point of this discourse on judgment? Perhaps the answer lies in the Greek word krinein itself, which can mean both “judge” and “condemn.” The purpose of the coming of Jesus was not to condemn but to save (3:17; cf. 8:15). Yet the very coming of Jesus set persons into decisive categories based on their acceptance or rejection of him. Accordingly, by his coming, the Father who sent him placed Jesus in the position of evaluation (5:22–24; 9:39) so that Jesus’ role actually was and is part of the Father’s judgment or evaluation (8:16). The purpose in the coming of Jesus had thus not changed. He came to be the Savior of the world (4:42), but human decision did mean that Jesus evaluated people (cf. 8:44; 9:39–41).”^[4] The bottom line is that the Father sent Jesus to provide a way of salvation. Judgement is made at the foot of the cross. It is at the cross that our sin is dealt with. The Jews understood God as the Father. Therefore, for Jesus to say He came from Heaven and was sent by the Father was a big deal! If you are putting together a resume’ for a new job, it does not hurt your cause to have a name or two as a reference that carries some weight. Talk about a reference! Jesus’ claim that He came from the Father is the greatest reference He could have.

                One with the Father. In verse 19 Jesus is asked where His father was. It is obvious Jesus had already made it clear when He said that He came from Heaven and He was sent from the Father. He now goes further by telling the Pharisees that if they knew the Father, they would know Him. In doing so, He makes the profound statement that He and the Father are one. Jesus was claiming to be God!

                What a testimony Jesus had! He is the light of the world, He came from Heaven, He was sent by God, and He is one with the Father. Therefore, because of who He is, He is the only way by which we can be saved. Jesus is the only way of salvation. When you put your faith and trust in Him, your life is made new and one day you will be with Him in glory! Here is the conclusion of the matter: Jesus is who He is. Whether you believe it or not; it does not change a thing. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Savior. Jesus is the Light. Jesus is the only way.

^[1] Borchert, G. L. (1996). John 1–11 (Vol. 25A, pp. 295–296). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^[2] Borchert, G. L. (1996). John 1–11 (Vol. 25A, p. 296). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^[3] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Jn 8:14). Lexham Press.

^[4] Borchert, G. L. (1996). John 1–11 (Vol. 25A, p. 297). Broadman & Holman Publishers.