John 8:12-59 | What's the connection?

Taking from just a few selections of the meat found in this section of Scripture, I want to hone in on a couple major points.

Let's look at Jesus being the light of the world. The language is very reminiscent of what was spoken in John 1 of Jesus being the light for all humanity. And that text was heavily reminiscent of the language used in Genesis during the creation narrative. Jesus is that light which comes from above. He fills and gives light to those around. For those who would walk in Christ, they would walk in His light and not in darkness. By this point, it was a strong cultural understanding that walking in darkness inferred walking in sin. So what is Jesus getting at? Those who are in Him will walk in righteousness. Even more than this, we must remember that these teachings are taking place during the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Feast of Tabernacles had many important ties to what Jesus is doing. Like I shared a couple of weeks ago, Jesus spoke on the living water during a water ceremony. The comment about being the light of the world likely took place during the torchlight ceremony which commemorated the pillar of fire in the wilderness that guided and directed the people of Israel through the night. In short, the allusion Jesus is making is that He will guide those who abide with Him.

This comment is what leads to the broader discussion with the Pharisees. The conversation eventually leads to a spot where Jesus speaks of freeing from bondage. The Pharisees respond in saying, "We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?" (John 8:33). The irony here is that this broad stroke of a statement neglects Israel's captivity in Egypt. There have been a lot of words Jesus has shared that give allusions to the wilderness. Being akin to the living water may draw minds to consider the rock in the wilderness, which Paul tells us is speaking of Jesus. The likening of Himself to the pillar of fire is another allusion. And here, the language of bringing the people out of their bondage is reminiscent of the people being freed from their captivity in Egypt and then so on.

A lot of what is being drawn together here in the narrative that Jesus is speaking, is showing how all these works that the Lord has done, was done through Jesus. John is showing that Jesus is God incarnate. Now, to anyone who might say that Jesus never claimed to be God, there is a very important line of Jesus that we need to look at.

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
-John 8:58

Jesus draws their attention by offering the emphasis of, "Most assuredly, I say to you..." It means whatever is to follow is not some offhanded comment. It is critically intentional. And what does He say? "Before Abraham was, I AM." Do you remember how the Lord introduces Himself to Moses? "I AM WHO I AM." (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is not only making a claim that He is that I AM, but He is also contrasting Himself to preceding Abraham. The opponents of Jesus immediately know what He is saying. As a result, they try to stone him.

What connections are you making in this passage?