The Testimony of Jesus

Intro:

Last week, we caught ourselves up to this moment at the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.

Jesus speaks in the Temple about the water — those who follow Him will be granted to have the Holy Spirit

Now after the woman caught in adultery, Jesus is back in the Temple at the end of the festal week during the lighting of the 75 ft. tall menorahs — this was to remind the people of the pillar of fire and smoke which guided them in the wilderness, as well as to call them to look forward to the Messiah who would lead and free Israel again.

Jesus says “I AM the light of the World, whoever follows me shall not abide in darkness” — Remember the significance of light and dark?

Two Witnesses

Now, we come to the next dialogue that Jesus has with the Pharisees over this claim:

John 8:12–20 CSB

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” 14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” “You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

What They Are Saying

Why would the Pharisees challenge Jesus’ claim here?

Not out of sheer disbelief — it was in accordance with their Law

They are saying that if Jesus is the only one saying this about Himself then there was no discernable reason to believe Him — another attempt to discredit Him before the crowds

What do you make of Jesus’ reply about His testimony?

“Even if … because I know from where I came and where I am going”

Jesus understood, as is likely obvious to us, His Godhead — these Pharisees couldn’t comprehend it even if they could logically deduce who Jesus taught Himself to be. In this moment, Jesus is telling them that He has come from God, and is going to go back to God (cf. Jn. 13.1) and the fact alone that He was sent from the Father and to return to Him is enough to make His testimony true.

Why? Because He IS God — The Father and the Son are One God, Who cannot be contrary to Himself nor be false.

In saying He is going back to the Father, He is also in a sense predicting His resurrection from the dead.

Jesus then says they did not know either from whence He came, nor whereto He would go.

Why do they not know?

They judge according to the flesh — Jesus is giving them the same admonition here as in chapter 5 that they must not judge according to the flesh if they would know the spiritual things and the One they claim to obey.

“I judge no one,” Jesus says — John 3.17 John 5.26-9

John 5:26–29 CSB

26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.

John 5:26–29 CSB

26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Both statements are true… How is it that Jesus came not to judge, yet has been given the authority from the Father to judge?

Notice chapter 3 says that the Son was not sent to judge. This seems to be the key, in saying that the first coming of the Son was not to judge, but to save. Yet, there will be another coming which will be for judgement (Acts 17.30-31)

Therefore, Jesus says “I judge no one” — neither judging them justly nor by the flesh — yet He says that if He did it would be true because He and the Father both are in agreement at all times

John 8:17–18 CSB

17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

This is the point of the Pharisees’ contention: The Law forbade a trial or a case to be made except on the evidence of two or three witnesses (as an aside, the Church uses this measure as well in calling out sins).

“I am the One … and my Father who sent me.”

Though they are One God, the Father and Son remain distinct as Persons and are ever in agreement one with another! So the judgment of the One is the same judgment from the Other.

So, at the end of this dialogue, what has Jesus said?

That His claim to be Light is true on the testimony of Himself and the Father alike!

John 8:19–20 CSB

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” “You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus seems to not even deem this question worthy of direct answer, because they don’t even know God!

Are there perhaps persons today who know not the Father?

Conclusion

Read the blessed words of the Lord this week and find the Glory that is His. Believe His words, and pray that God reveal to you the truth of these words of Jesus. Let’s be people, as there were in the first century, who are enthralled with Jesus!