But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
The saying was spoken at Jerusalem during the feast, when the rulers questioned the right to teach and moved to silence the speaker. It declares a direct knowledge of God grounded in origin and commission, for the speaker is from Him and has been sent by Him. That coming from God and being sent by God is the source of knowledge and authority, not independent or self-initiated action. The teaching therefore is not self-derived but received from the One who sent Him, marking Him as an authoritative teacher of God's truth who seeks God's glory rather than His own.
The hearers insisted that they knew where He came from and what His origin was. In fact they did not truly know God, nor did they grasp His divine origin and mission. Their expectations concerning the Messiah were mistaken. Spiritual blindness kept them from recognizing Him as the Son. Had they lived in obedience to God's will, they would have recognized His Son at His appearing.
The saying was spoken at Jerusalem during the feast, when the rulers questioned the right to teach and moved to silence the speaker. It declares a direct knowledge of God grounded in origin and commission, for the speaker is from Him and has been sent by Him. That coming from God and being sent by God is the source of knowledge and authority, not independent or self-initiated action. The teaching therefore is not self-derived but received from the One who sent Him, marking Him as an authoritative teacher of God's truth who seeks God's glory rather than His own.
The hearers insisted that they knew where He came from and what His origin was. In fact they did not truly know God, nor did they grasp His divine origin and mission. Their expectations concerning the Messiah were mistaken. Spiritual blindness kept them from recognizing Him as the Son. Had they lived in obedience to God's will, they would have recognized His Son at His appearing.