John 8: 12-20

(John 8: 12-20)

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.  The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.  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 whence I come, and whither I go.  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.  It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.  I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.  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.  These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

The Festival of Booths was passing. Jesus declares Himself as the source of water that leads to eternal life and declares Himself as the light of the world. In Zechariah 14:7-8『 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.  And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 』

The Festival of Booths, established in commemoration of the Exodus, reminds us of the image of water poured out of the rock and the pillar of fire that led Israel every night. On the first night of the festival, there was a liturgy of lighting four gold candlesticks in the woman's courtyard. In the literature, known as the elders' tradition, Mishnara said that this candlestick had four golden vessels at the top that had to be climbed up a ladder, and the vessels contained wicks made from priest's underwear and belts. So, when the candlestick was lit, it was said that during the festival, all Jerusalem was reflected by the fire that lit up as the water procession passed from the woman's courtyard.

 Jesus proclaimed and promised that no matter how high the fire shimmered and shone, it had to be extinguished after the Feast of Booths. However, the Pharisees did not realize the true light even though they lit the candlesticks for the Feast of Sukkot every year. And the Jews cried out to Jesus to prove it. "There was life in him, and this life is the light of people, and the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not understand." Judging Jesus is the criterion for judging who you are. When the Pharisees met the light, they turned around and closed their eyes, proving that they were in darkness and that Jesus was the light. They themselves became witnesses. The best way to prove that there is light is to be able to confirm that it is their own darkness.

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