And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
These words were spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles, as part of the teaching that He is the light of the world. It was morning, with the sun just risen above the Mount of Olives and shining with dazzling brightness upon the marble palaces and the gold of the temple walls. The evening before, two lofty standards holding great lamp-stands in the center of the court had been kindled to shed light over Jerusalem, in memory of the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert and in hope of the Messiah coming to shed His light upon Israel.
If He judges, His judgment is true, because He is not alone but judges together with the Father who sent Him. When the Pharisees charged that His witness of Himself was not true, He answered that He knew where He came from and where He was going while they did not. Unlike the Pharisees, who judge after the flesh, He does not judge on His own and judges no man of Himself.
He does nothing of Himself but speaks as the Father taught Him and always does what pleases Him, and the Father who sent Him is with Him and has not left Him alone. His commission is from God, the highest authority and Creator of the universe, not from human authorities, and He did not consult priests or rulers about His course. His teaching the people, relieving suffering and healing, forgiving sin, cleansing His Father's temple and driving out its desecrators, and condemning the hypocritical lives of the Pharisees and reproving their hidden sins were all done under His Father's instruction and authority.
For acting under that instruction the Pharisees hated Him and sought to kill Him. Those who follow Him will meet the same misunderstanding and rejection He met. Those who continue in His word are His disciples indeed and shall know the truth and the truth shall make them free, while those who cannot hear His word show they are not of God.
These words were spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles, as part of the teaching that He is the light of the world. It was morning, with the sun just risen above the Mount of Olives and shining with dazzling brightness upon the marble palaces and the gold of the temple walls. The evening before, two lofty standards holding great lamp-stands in the center of the court had been kindled to shed light over Jerusalem, in memory of the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert and in hope of the Messiah coming to shed His light upon Israel.
If He judges, His judgment is true, because He is not alone but judges together with the Father who sent Him. When the Pharisees charged that His witness of Himself was not true, He answered that He knew where He came from and where He was going while they did not. Unlike the Pharisees, who judge after the flesh, He does not judge on His own and judges no man of Himself.
He does nothing of Himself but speaks as the Father taught Him and always does what pleases Him, and the Father who sent Him is with Him and has not left Him alone. His commission is from God, the highest authority and Creator of the universe, not from human authorities, and He did not consult priests or rulers about His course. His teaching the people, relieving suffering and healing, forgiving sin, cleansing His Father's temple and driving out its desecrators, and condemning the hypocritical lives of the Pharisees and reproving their hidden sins were all done under His Father's instruction and authority.
For acting under that instruction the Pharisees hated Him and sought to kill Him. Those who follow Him will meet the same misunderstanding and rejection He met. Those who continue in His word are His disciples indeed and shall know the truth and the truth shall make them free, while those who cannot hear His word show they are not of God.