v.12

 ¹²
When 
Jesus spoke again 
to the people, he said, 

"I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk 
in darkness, but will have the light of life." 
________________________________________________________

He spoke to the people. The people listened. People always in wait
for a charismatic leader. There are many leaders. But have no full
trust of the ordinary people. Leadership is politics. Nothing to do
with people. Charismatic leader is rare. But the rare one is remembered
for ever by people. JC had and still have that unique charisma. This
charisma is "light" like a torch. No explanation is necessary. You see,
and you identify with it right away. On the other hand, the "darkness"
is the no-charisma life. Ordinary, everyday life like flat, dull, habitual,
uninteresting, full with misery and Pharisee-Laws.
.

v.13

 ¹³

The Pharisees challenged him, 

"Here you are, appearing as your own witness.
 Your testimony is not valid." 
_______________________________________________________

The Pharisee-Law will always challenge those who are willing to
move on for changes. Their Law is the status-quo. No change.
Always the same. Always the same for any one, but themselves.
Their Law makes life a jail-term. This is how the "darkness" is
spread. They are the one for spreading spiritual darkness, and
no light.
.

v.14

 ¹⁴
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. 

But you have no idea 

where I come from or where I am going.
_____________________________________________

So JC got into this argument with the Pharisee Law.
But both side speaks a different language. They are unable
to come to term. In fact, there is never a common ground, when
one is attacking, and another one is defending. Attack and
defense are separation, not uniting power. Spreading the darkness
is exactly this: keep them separate. Divide them. Who ever keeps
the "division" will have the power to rule them. No wonder if no
more light goes through.
.

v.15

¹⁵

 You judge by human standards.

 I pass judgment on no one. 

____________________________________________

So the human standard is clear. Judgment. Separation.
Maintain the division.The poor is more poor, and the rich
is more and more wealthy. But this is and it never was
Christianity. Christianity brings in the idea by Jesus Christ,
that the "human standard" should be overridden by the
"divine standard" of No-Judgment. What is it? Mercy!
Judgment, accusation is the force of evil.
No-Judgment is mercy and life, and charisma.
.

v.16

¹⁶
But if I do judge, 
my decisions are right, 
because I am not alone. 
I stand with the Father, who sent me. 
_______________________________________________

So is JC does judge or doesn't? Not in terms of the Pharisee Law.
Not in terms of the darkness of humanity.
He identifies himself in close relationship with the Father-God.
Is any of us brave enough to do the same and do so? How much
mission-mindedness he had to have, to proclaim this close relation!

v.17

¹⁷

In your own Law 

it is written that the testimony 
of two men is valid.
_________________________________________

Does JC knows the Pharisee Law? Sounds like he does.
Very seldom he quotes from it though. He quote rather
from the prophets more. The prophets had the Spirit of
God as their contemporary & immediate source.
The Pharisee Law & Pharisee Torah do not have that!
As much as the "letter" make learning, as much the
"learning" will kill the Spirit and freeze it into dead books.

v.18

¹⁸
I am one 
who testifies for myself.
My other witness is the Father, 
who sent me." 
______________________________________________

It's amazing, how JC is brave enough to appeal to God, as an
immediate witness. For him this Father-figure God is accessible
and for any one, without mediation of religious rituals. Exactly
like thus for the prophets.The Pharisee Law does not have the
option for any one to appeal to this living God as legalized power.
JC's perspective of God is not base on the Pharisee Law or teaching.
It's coming from somewhere else. Perhaps we even say: JC was no
jew at all.