12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to the religious leaders, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. 16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. 17 It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. 18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

19 They said therefore to him, “Where is your Father?”

Jesus answered, “You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

John 8:12-20 - World English Bible

In John 8, Jesus declared he was the light of the world that would show the way to life, just as Isaiah foretold about the glory of YHWH leading those in Diaspora back to the Promised Land. (Isaiah 60:1). The leaders held his testimony was nothing more than a personal assertion. He insisted his witness was valid, based upon the source of his being and his mission. He came from the Father who also testified on his behalf. So, he and the Father stood as the witnesses to his claim (Deuteronomy 17:6, 9:15). Jesus was the light of the world, coming into the world not to judge it, but to save it.

The leaders could not see, for they had no faith. "Where is your Father?" they demanded. Jesus treated the question as a rhetorical one. If they knew him, they would know the Father.

We know God as our intimate Father because we believe in Jesus. The more we trust our Savior, the closer we will come to the source of our being, our Father.

How close are you to God today?