Jesus often exhorted his audience—followers, curious bystanders, Jewish leaders—to truly listen and hear what he said. Many times during his ministry, he explained who he was and his relationship to the Father.
Read John 8:12-18.
- Jesus reminded people he was indeed the light John proclaimed earlier and the light gives life.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4).
- Earlier the Pharisees tried to use the law to trap Jesus.
- Here again they claimed his testimony is invalid.
- Jesus said his testimony stands.
- This reminds me of my favorite definition of testimony:
*that which we have seen and heard
- More than once Jesus stated,
“ … Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19).
“But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world. … 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 but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:26, 28).
- Jesus’ testimony stands because he speaks what he has seen and heard directly from God the Father.
- Jesus also reminded the Pharisees he knew where he came from. Not only did they not know where he came from, they wouldn’t understand if they did.
- They sought to judge Jesus’ testimony to support their choice not to listen to him.
- Jesus declared his judgments are right because he stands in agreement with God.
- This mini-section ends with an interesting reference to personhood in the trinity.
- “In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me” (John 8:17-18).
- According to Zodhiates,1 the word recently translated “witnesses” universally means “men,” as in person.
*What is the significance of Jesus’ origin regarding his testimony?
*What excuses do we make for choosing not to listen to Jesus?
Read John 8:18-20.
- Verse 18 might function as a bridge between Jesus’ comments on his testimony and the Father’s role.
- The Pharisees dropped their complaints about Jesus’ testimony and seized on his statement the Father sent him.
- Their question implied a focus on an earthly father, someone they expected to have a name and address.
- Jesus’ response echoes verse 14. They were clueless about where Jesus came from or where his path in life will take him. And they didn’t truly know him.
- If they grasped who Jesus was, they would also understand his relationship with his Father.
- This discussion took place in a public area in the temple, where people left their offerings to God.
- For the fourth time in his gospel, John recorded the phrase, “his time had not yet come.”
- John pointed out Jesus’ earthly ministry followed the Father’s plan for all who would hear and believe.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
*What is the significance that God the Father sent Jesus?
*What does it mean to know Jesus, where he came from, and where he is going?
Read John 8:21-30.
- The Jews who heard Jesus’ teaching didn’t know where he came from, they didn’t know him or his Father, and they didn’t know where he was going.
- If the Jews would look for Jesus, why would they not find him and thus die in their sin?
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).
- Jesus stated they could not come where he would go.
- He answered their confused questions by pointing out their lack of belief and restating his earlier teaching in a different way.
- Unbelievers do not seek heavenly things above, and they do not believe Jesus is who he claims to be, the Son of God.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).
- After questioning Jesus’ testimony, origins, Father, and plan, the Jews asked,
- “Who are you?”
- Jesus chose to speak only what the Father told him to say.
- His garden prayer and crucifixion would prove he followed only the Father’s will.
- No man would choose the path Jesus walked.
- Even so, Jesus expressed his complete trust in God the Father to walk with him through all the Father asked. He set an example to follow God and do only what pleases him.
- Something about his relationship with the Father drew many to faith, trusting Jesus was indeed who he said he was.
*What does it mean to seek God with all our heart?
*How can we follow Jesus’ example to please God?
Who does Jesus say he is? Will we choose to believe his answer?
John’s gospel brings us back to the key question:
*Who do we say Jesus is?
*How will this make a difference in how we live?
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study New Testament, King James Version (AMG Publishers, 1991), 180.