Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）
Understanding the Thinking of His Hearers
Text: John 5:31; 8:13-14
UNDERSTANDING THE THINKING OF HIS HEARERS
Jesus showed that He fully understood the way His hearers thought. They did not need to voice out their thoughts. To Jesus, it was obvious. He surprised His detractors by the depth and the clarity of His thoughts.
THE QUESTION OF MAKING STATEMENTS
Jesus had made many important statements. The following may be highlighted:
1. That He was able to give eternal life (John 5:24)
2. That He was the Son of God (John 5:25)
3. That He would be the Divine Judge (John 5:27)
4.That He was the apocalyptic Son of Man (John 5:27)
THE QUESTION OF A WITNESS
Jesus could make such claims? But how would He be able to verify such claims?
If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
John 5:31
This statement is best understood by another statement He made at another place.
The Pharisees therefore said to Him,
You bear witness of Yourself, Your witness is not trueJesus 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.John 8:13-14
1. A general principle and practice of Jewish law
a. A statement or a claim must be verified by witnesses
b. The Pharisees in particular applied this common practice as an objection to the claims of Jesus
2. The explanation of Jesus
a. It may seem that the witness of an individual is invalid
b. However, much depends on the Person making the statement or claim
c. The truth that Jesus proclaimed is still truth even if He bears witness concerning Himself
d. His Divine identity would qualify Him as One who does not need verification
e. He knew where He had come from… Heaven
f. He knew where He would be going at the end of His earthly life… Heaven
g. Because the Jews did not understand this vital truth, they could not accept the truth Jesus proclaimed!
经文：约翰福音 5: 31, 8: 13-14
了解听见祂的人的想法
耶稣显示祂完全理解听见祂的人的思绪。他们不需要说出自己内心的思想。对耶稣而言，这是明显的。耶稣清晰及富深度的思想令祂的批评者感到惊讶。
关于耶稣的声明
耶稣做出了许多重要的声明。我们可以强调以下几点：
1. 祂能够给予永生《约翰福音 5: 24》
2. 祂是上帝的儿子《约翰福音 5: 25》
3. 祂将是神圣的审判者《约翰福音 5: 27》
4. 祂是末日的人子《约翰福音 5: 27》
关于见证
耶稣可以宣称以上的声明吗？但祂要怎么证实所宣称的呢？
“我若为自己作见证，我的见证就不真。”
《约翰福音 5: 31》
祂在另一处所说的另一句话让我们更理解了这句话。
“法利赛人对他说：‘你是为自己作见证，你的见证不真。’
耶稣说：‘我虽然为自己作见证，我的见证还是真的；因我知道我从哪里来，往哪里去。你们却不知道我从哪里来，往哪里去。’”《约翰福音 8: 13-14》