John 8:19-20  ¹⁹Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father.” ²⁰These words he spoke in the treasury as he was teaching in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 

The Pharisees were at least thinking in their conversation with Jesus, but their questions only showed their ignorance and refusal to think deeply about the meaning of their own Scriptures and the Law they so fervently tried to keep. They misunderstood the deep theology and profound thoughts Jesus had been explaining to them. They wanted to know who the Father was who sent Jesus. They were thinking on the earthly level, like so many others before them in John’s Gospel. The themes of fatherhood, origins, and source of authority continue through the rest of this chapter.

Jesus’ response pinpointed their ignorance. They did not know him, and by not knowing him, they also did not know his Father. The link between Jesus and God in verse 19 is important. To know Jesus is to know the Father. If one claims to believe in God, which many people say they do in some general sense, one must know and believe in Jesus. Otherwise, the “God” one believes in is only of one’s own imagination, which often makes God look like oneself or what one wants God to be like. The truth and reality is that God is revealed in Jesus. The Pharisees did not know the Father and had likewise made God into someone who fit their theology and worldview. As we find out later in the experience of Paul the Apostle, the Pharisees had a lot of the truth but missed some important qualities of God and God’s revelation.

John adds a further narrative comment in verse 20 that sets the scene of this discussion. This discussion was in the area where the offerings were given. Since women could give offerings (Mark 12:41-42), this was likely at least in an area where many people could gather, thus a very public place. The officers could not arrest Jesus in this situation. John gives the reason as it was not Jesus’ ordained hour to experience suffering. Jesus had more ministry to do. The hour represents the special point in time when Scripture would be fulfilled and God’s plan of redemption completed. The reason Jesus was not arrested was not because of the peer pressure from the people but because of God’s plan. The simple lesson of these verses is the importance of knowing Jesus. The background theme continues to be the need to believe in him and that he is the full revelation of God and God’s plan of salvation for humanity.

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