Daily Devotions
John
Jesus the Rabbi
Text: John 8 : 12-59
JESUS THE RABBI
How brilliantly Jesus taught! He made full use of any and every occasion to communicate deep and vital truths. He had performed many wondrous signs that should have caused the people to find faith in God. Sadly, the response was anything but encouraging. John used one word that well summarized the general response to the miracles of Jesus. He wrote,
“So there was a division among the people
because of Him.”
John 7:43
The fault did not lie with Jesus at all, for He continued to display outstanding teaching skills. After He fed the multitudes with bread, He proclaimed,
“I am the Bread of Life.”
John 6:35, 48
He went on to say further,
“I am the Living Bread which came
down from heaven.”
John 6:51
At the Feast of Tabernacles, when the people celebrated God’s provision of water, Jesus cried out,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
John 7:37
The Feast of Tabernacles also celebrated God’s provision of light. The light that God provided was in the form of fire that guarded the whole congregation of Israel in the night. Should Israel need to make night maneuvers, the pillar of fire would lead the way.
“And the Lord went before them by day in
a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by
night in a pillar of fire to give them light,
so as to go by day and night. He did not take
away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar
of fire by night from before the people.”
Exodus 13:21-22
The celebration of God’s gift of light was seized by Jesus to proclaim a great truth. Jesus said,
“I am the light of the world. He who
follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but have the light of life.”
John 8:12
ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL DEBATE
When the Pharisees heard these words, they decided to take up the issue with Him. They protested,
“You bear witness of Yourself;
Your witness is not true.”
John 8:13
Anybody could claim that he is the light of the world. How would Jesus substantiate His claim? How would He prove that He was indeed the Light of the world?
ANOTHER ARGUMENT CONCERNING “WITNESSES”
John had already written quite extensively on the subject of “witnesses”. Jesus had in fact brought out more than enough “witnesses” to prove that what He had said was true. Let’s recall what Jesus appealed to as His witnesses.
1. There was His personal self-witness (John 5:31).
2. John the Baptiser was a good witness (John 5:32-35).
3. Jesus also appealed to His “works” as His witnesses (John 5:36).
4. He spoke of God His Father as His witness (John 5:37).
5. Finally Jesus spoke of the Scriptures as that which bore witness of Him (John 5:39).
Perhaps the Jews did not like the way Jesus brought in His witnesses. It certainly was an unusual way of calling for witnesses. The Jews did not enter into a discussion concerning the witnesses that Jesus spoke of. Instead, they argued that He stood alone, and therefore His declaration was not valid. The Law of Moses specifically declared that there must at least be two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15).
THE DEFENCE OF JESUS CONCERNING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS PERSONAL SELF-WITNESS
Jesus rejected the charge of the Jews that His self-witness was insufficient. He had already more than proven Himself to authenticate His power and authority! The Son of God does not need anyone to bear witness of who He was. We are reminded of what John wrote in an earlier part of his Gospel.
“He knew all men and had no need that
anyone should testify of man…
(with reference to Himself)”
John 2:24-25
In normal legal proceedings, the Law of Moses provided good and sound advice when it came to the matter of providing witnesses. A person who testifies must have someone or some people who would corroborate what had been declared! But we are not talking about just an ordinary person when we speak of Jesus! He who could heal people with a word is not an ordinary Person who needed any witnesses to vouch for Him.
Jesus went on to argue a very fine point concerning the “self-witness”. This argument was particularly valid when it is applied to Jesus. He needed only His own witness to establish the truth.
“Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true…”
John 8:14