Jesus replied to the Pharisees’ objection to his claim to be like a light for the people of the world.

John 8:12-20

12 Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am like a light [MET] for all the people in [MTY] the world. Just like a light reveals what has been in the darkness [MET], I reveal God’s truth to them. Those who walk in the darkness are unaware of what is around them. But those who become my disciples will always be aware of God’s truth [MET]. They will have my light which shows them how to have eternal life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are just telling about yourself! Since there is no one else to verify these things that you say about yourself, we do not need to accept that what you say is true.” 14 Jesus replied, “Even if I were the only one to say these things about myself, what I say is true, because I know that I came from heaven, and I know that I am going back to heaven. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You judge people according to human standards. The reason that I am here is not ◄to condemn people/to say that I will punish people► for their sins. 16 But if I did judge people, what I decided would be correct, because I am not the only one who will decide those things. I and the one who sent me will both decide. 17 It is written {Moses wrote} in your law that if at least two people testify that some event has happened, people should consider that what they say is true. 18 I am telling you about myself, and the other one who is telling you about me is my Father who sent me. So you should believe that what we declare is true.”

19 Then they asked him, “If you have a father whom we can question about you, where is he?” Jesus replied, “You do not know who I really am. If you knew who I really am, you would know who my Father is also.” 20 He said these things when he was in the Temple courtyard, near the place where the people put their offerings. This was also very close to the place where the Jewish council met. But no one seized him to arrest him, because it was not yet time [MTY] for him to suffer and die.