111. Light and Darkness

Again Jesus spoke to the crowd, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Pharisees said to him, “You talk about yourself. What you say isn’t valid.”

Jesus answered them, “Even if I talk about myself, my words are true, for I know where I came from, and where I’m going; you don’t know where I came from, or where I’m going. You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one, but if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone: I am with the Father who sent me. It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?”

Jesus answered, “You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus said again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.”

They said to one another, “Will he kill himself? He says, ‘Where I’m going, you can’t come’?”

He said to them, “You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. I said you will die in your sins, because unless you believe that I am the one, you will die in your sins.”

They said to him, “Who are you?”

Jesus said to them, “Listen to what I’ve been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. He who sent me is true; the things which I heard from him, I say to the world.”

They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father. Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I am the one, and I do nothing of myself. As my Father taught me, I say these things. The one who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

As he spoke these things, many believed in him. Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave doesn’t live in the house, but the son does forever. If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 

Reflection

Jesus said several outrageous things about himself, claiming to be the light of the world and the truth that sets people free. If you heard someone say such things today, how would you react? Some said he was crazy; others said he was the real thing. What do you say? 

Prayer: Give me wisdom to know the truth, Lord, and boldness to act on it.