The Gospel of John: John 8.12-30

Read and meditate on John 8.13-16.
The Pharisees continue to try to discredit Jesus, since he is a threat to their position in Jewish society. Here they deny the validity of His witness to Himself. Jesus’ response inflames them even more.

¹³The Pharisees, set on a course of strife
with Jesus, therefore said, “You witness to
Yourself; therefore, Your witness is not true.”
¹⁴But Jesus answered, “Even if I do
bear witness to Myself, My words are true,
for I know where I came from, and I know
where I am going; but you do not know
where I am from, or where I go. ¹⁵You judge
according to the flesh. But I? I judge
no man. ¹⁶Yet if I judge, be sure of this:
Whatever word I speak of judgment is
the truth, for I am not alone, but I
am with the Father, He Who dwells on high,
and Who has sent Me.”

- John 8.13-16

Reflect
1.  The Pharisees’ tactic here is to try to position Jesus’ claims as merely His own opinion. Have you ever heard that from someone, when you’ve talked to them about Jesus: “That’s just your opinion”? How should you respond to that?Complete this prayer: I know You, Lord, and I know Your gift of salvation, so it’s not just my opinion that You are the Savior of the world, but…

2.  Jesus’ first response to this challenge may seem a little weak: “Even if [only] I bear witness to Myself, My witness is true.” Why did Jesus say this was so? What did Jesus know about Himself that gave Him such confidence? How should His assurance and confidence instruct us as His witnesses? Lord, I know Whom I have believed! I know You, Lord, and so I can bear witness to You because…

3.  What did Jesus mean by saying that the Pharisees “judge according to the flesh”? What authorities for truth do people turn to in our day? Is this just another version of judging according to the flesh? Explain. Lord, no opinion of man, discovery of science, or philosophical theory can change the fact that You…

4.  In verses 15 and 16, Jesus seems to be saying different things. He doesn’t judge, but if He does, His judgment is true. Is it possible that Jesus both does and does not judge? Explain. Lord, I follow the judgment of Your Word today and every day, so that when I come to the final Judgment of God…

5.  How did Jesus describe His relationship with the Father? How would the Jews have heard this? What would they have understood Him to be saying? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“In order to refute their arguments and to show that he adapted his expressions to address the suspicions of those who thought he was no more than a mere man, our Lord says, ‘Though I bear record of myself, my record is still true.’ And he adds the reason, ‘For I know where I come from,’ in other words, I am from God, I am God and the Son of God. Now, God is surely a competent witness to himself.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

As Jesus’ witnesses, we should draw strength for our witness from the confidence He had in His. Explain.

Closing Prayer
I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.
All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Psalm 145.1-12

Psalm 145.1-12 (Brother James’ Air: The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want)
I will extol You, God, my King, and ever praise Your Name!
I bless You, Lord, for everything each day, and e’er the same!
Great are You, Lord, my praise I bring; unsearchable Your fame!

To ev’ry generation we Your wondrous works shall tell.
The splendor of Your majesty we contemplate full well.
We speak of all Your mighty deeds and all Your greatness tell!

Then shall we all the glorious fame of Your great goodness sing –
Your righteousness, Your gracious Name, Your mercy: praise we bring!
Your steadfast love remains the same, mercy our covering.

Your works shall thank You; all Your saints shall bless and praise You, Lord.
Your reign we bless without restraint; Your power fills our words.
Our children we shall educate in all Your splendor, Lord.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.