Jesus who knows His origin and destiny has God the Father as His co-witness
John 8:13–18 (NKJV)
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
14 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. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
Message
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” in John 8:12a. Jesus gave them the additional information in John 8:12b.
12b “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
I. Jesus who knows where He came from and where He is going (and the destiny of His followers) (13-14)
What is the reply of the Pharisees? See v13.
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
They said what Jesus had said in John 5:31 (“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.”) to challenge Him. It is because the law requires two or three witnesses to establish a matter (17, Deuteronomy 19:15, 17:6). What is the reply of Jesus See v14.
14 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.
Contrary to John 5:31, this time Jesus said, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true.” (14a). The reason that John 8:12b is true is because He knows where He came from and where He is going. So, He can tell the destiny of the person ‘following’ Him. Where He came from is God and where He is going is God.
II. Jesus who has God the Father as His co-witness (15-18)
The reason that His claim about Himself (‘the light of the world’) in John 8:12a is true is written in v15 ~ 18. See v15.
15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
Jesus pointed out how they judge others (‘according to the flesh’). They judge ‘according to appearance’ (John 7:24). See John 7:24 NKJV.
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Jesus judges no one according to the flesh (or appearance) (15b). Jesus taught, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37a). He also said, “Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you.” (Luke 6:37b). In v13, they were judging Jesus. But Jesus was not doing anything like them and so He said, “I judge no one.” Jesus sees us with the love of God. And love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12b). He accepts us as we are. And we can come to Him as we are. See v16.
16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
Even if Jesus does judge, His judgment is true because He is not alone but with the Father (16), forming two witnesses (See 17, 18). See v17.
17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.
The relevant law is written in Deuteronomy 19:15, 17:6. Jesus made judgment about Himself in John 8:12b (“I am the light of the world.”). Why is this true? See v18.
18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
It is because there are two witnesses, Jesus and the Father, and the law confirms the testimony of two men is true.
