Light of the World – Witnesses, Truth and Judgement.
Who is Jesus? part 87 – John 8:12-20
Keeping to a subject is impossible for me: I’m neurodivergent. In a conversation, I may just blurt out something that has just occurred to me – that’s the ADHD talking. Or I might try to steer the converstion on to one of my pet subjects – this time it’s autism talking. When someone else changes the subject, that is really annoying.
Jesus has this happen to him; I wonder if he was annoyed. He is talking about being the light of the world, but his detractors want to talk about witnesses. They are trying to make Jesus lose face in front of the crowd. Does it work? Read on…
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
John 8:12-20 ESVUK
The Pharisees called Jesus a liar.
It is still the festival of booths, which is notable for four things: The people living for a week in tents or portable shelters, the pouring out of water, really big candelabras in the Jerusalem Temple and fun. People went to this feast for fun. Ironically, the people who ran the festival were not up for fun.
Who knows where Jesus wanted to take this? He is teaching in the place where the big lights are placed and has said, “I am the light of the world.” He has also said that those who follow him will have the light of life. Jesus is offering people light and life as he always did, and continues to do today. Do you want life and light? Look to Jesus.
“Steve,” you might be thinking, “That’s bad writing, you should leave the appeal to the end of the post.” You’re not thinking that? Just me then. But I wanted to point out how positive Jesus is being. How can people not like this? Read on, it’s about to get darker…
The Pharisees have noticed two things. The first was Jesus’ use of “I am.” They knew he was claiming to be God, echoing what was said to Moses in Exodus 3:14. God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Secondly, they knew that Jesus was talking about them when he talked about people walking in darkness.
So they go on the attack. They call Jesus a liar and talk about witnesses. They use legal language. To settle something in court required at least two witnesses under Jewish law, found in Numbers 35:30 and Deuteronomy 17:6 and 15:9. But to use these verses to call Jesus a liar is pushing the law. It’s like claiming a defendant is not allowed to defend themself in court. Witnesses are needed for proof, but the lack of them does not make it a lie.
They are using Jesus’ own words against him. Jesus said, “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true.” (John 5:31). Jesus takes those words, but he moves them on to something else. That something else is judgment.
Scroll up to the reading and look at verses 13 to 18. As well as the repeated use of “witnesses”, which occurs seven times, there is also multiple use of both “true” and “judge/judgement”. Verses 15 and 16 are about Jesus and judging. He said, “15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.” How does this compare with Chapter 5, “22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgement to the Son.” Do these contradict? Not really. Jesus has the right to judge, but chooses not to judge anyone. Not even these Pharisees who are trying to trip him up. He is exposing the truth, exposing their motives like a searchlight. No wonder he said, “I am the light of the world.” Light enables things to be seen. But even to these Pharisees who oppose him, he is offering the light of life.
This justice does not work alone. there are as many mentions of truth in the passage as there are justice. Jesus’ justice is based on truth. All justice should be fact based, if it is not rooted in reality it cannot be justice.
This is an odd place to leave a post, but it is the first of three posts and more is to be revealed. The next one will be about knowing the Father.
< Previous | The Gospel of John | Next >
