12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whenco I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh ; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judgo, my judg-
ment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father ? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father : if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as ho taught in the temple; and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
The conversation between our Lord and the Jews5 which begins with these verses, is full of difficulties. The con- nection between one part and another, and the precise meaning of some of the expressions which fell from our Lord's lips, are " things hard to be understood." In pas- sages like this it is true wisdom to acknowledge the great
JOHN, chap. vin. 75
imperfection of our spiritual vision, and to be thankful if we can glean a few handfuls of truth.
Let us notice, for one thing, in these verses, what the Lord Jesus says of Himself. He proclaims, " I am the light of the world."
These words imply that the world needs light, and is naturally in a dark condition. It is so in a moral and spiritual point of view : and it has been so for nearly 6,000 years. In ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, in modern England, France, and German}', the same report is true. The vast majority of men neither see nor understand the value of their souls, the true nature of God, nor the reality of a world to come ! Notwithstanding all the discoveries of art and science, " darkness still covers the earth, and gross darkness the people." (Isai. lx. 2.)
For this state of things, the Lord Jesus Christ declares Himself to be the only remedy. He has risen, like the sun, to diffuse light, and life, and peace, and salvation, in the midst of a dark world. He invites all who want spiritual help and guidance to turn to Him, and take Him for their leader. What the sun is to the whole solar system — the centre of light, and heat, and life, and fertility — that He has come into the world to be to sinners.
Let this sa}dng sink down into our hearts. It is weighty and full of meaning. False lights on every side invite man's attention in the present day. Reason, philosophy, earnestness, liberalism, conscience, and the voice of the Church, are all, in their various ways, crying loudly that they have got " the light " to show us. Their advocates know not what they say. Wretched are those who believe their high professions ! He only is the true light who came into the world to save sinners, who died as our substitute on the cross, and sits at God's right hand to be our Friend. " In His light we shall see light." (Psalm xxxvi. 9.)