Family resemblences are often very uncanny genetically. The Pharisees are sure they know who their dad is, but Jeses corrects them.

The Big Idea: Understanding and accepting Jesus’ identity is of singular importance.

Point One: Jesus is certain and secure in his identity.

I am the Light of the world (v. 12). He is the meaning of the festival of lights that it was all pointing to in this festival. He is not just the light of Israel, but Christ says that he is the light of the whole world too.

I know where I come from and where I am going (v. 14).
The Father sent me (v. 16).
TheFather bears witness about me (v. 18).
Where I am going you cannot come (v. 21).
I am from above; I am not of this world (v. 23).
I declare to the world what I have heard from him (v. 26).
When you have lifted up the Son of Man (v. 28).
I do nothing on my own authority (v. 28).
I speak just as the Father taught me (v. 28).

This conversation takes place in the treasury where there would be lots of guards. This would have been an easy place to arrest Jesus but John says that his time had not yet come.

Point Two: Jesus’ identity is easily misunderstood.

Your testimony is not true (v. 13). They say that Jesus does not have a second testimony to confirm what he is saying. They are saying this is a point of order and he is not following their “Roberts rules.”

Where is your Father? (v. 19).

Will he kill himself? (v. 22). They said this because Jesus said where he is going they cannot come. They assume he is going to hell because He is going to commit suicide and they would not go to hell because They think God owes them heaven because they are descendants of Abraham.

Who are you? (v. 25).
They did not understand . . .(v. 27).

Point Three: Accepting and acting upon Jesus’ identity is of singular importance.

Jesus is quoting Isaiah 43:8- you want and are looking for Gods deliverer, I am He! Unless you want to bear in yourself the judgment of your sin, come to me as I am He who bears that sin for you instead.

Follow me and have the light of life (v. 12).
You will die in your sin(s) (vv. 21, 24).
Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins (v. 24).

The passage:
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.