John 8:12–20

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am^a the light of the world.^b Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”^c

The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”^d

Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.^e But you have no idea where I come from^f or where I am going. You judge by human standards;^g I pass judgment on no one.^h But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.ⁱ In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.^j I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”^k

Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,”^l Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”^m He spoke these words while teachingⁿ in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put.^o Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.^p