John 8:12-18 - Lesson #84

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus had begun to speak boldly about His identity and the authority of His message; "He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him" (John 7:18). At the conclusion of the Feast, Jesus continued to proclaim His truth.

John 8:12-18
"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.' The Pharisees therefore said to Him, 'You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.' Jesus answered and said to them, 'Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.'"

This was the second of seven "I am" statements in the gospel of John. Jesus was introduced as "the true Light which gives light to every man" (John 1:9), a specific reference to point to Jesus as God; "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Isaiah prophesied about a future time when, "the Lord will be your everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:20), and David called God "my light and my Salvation" (Psalm 27:1).

The Pharisees did not accept Jesus' claim and said the testimony of a single individual was not valid; "by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established" (Deuteronomy 19:15). No one could establish truth on his own. Jesus had even acknowledged the validity of this law; "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true" (John 5:31). But Jesus was never alone. He was one with the Father and when He spoke the Father also spoke. Not only was His word true because of the testimony of the Father, but His word was true because He was God; "it is impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6:18).

Once again, Jesus confronted the value system by which the Pharisees were judging; "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24). The Pharisees had created a system of rules and self-affirming truth which had no place for Jesus. And while external actions for the glory of God definitely have their place, judgment is reserved for the condition of the heart; "man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

When Jesus walked this earth, He did not come to judge or condemn. However, the day will come when He WILL judge; "the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). And we can be certain that His judgement will be true. What is our established system of truth? When we one day stand before Him, there will be only one question: What is the condition of your heart?