Daily 38.

Heavenly Father, we are so privileged to be able to come before You to spend quiet time with You. We give thanks to You as always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

John 8:12-30, Feast of Tabernacles, Part 6.

V 12, When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Feast of Tabernacles had ended the day before. During the feast, 4 giant golden menorahs were put up to light up the temple complex every night. With the 4 giant golden menorahs as the backdrop, Jesus declared His 2nd I Am statement, John 8: 12, “I am the light of the world”.

VV13-14, 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.

According to the Pharisees, Jesus’ testimony of Himself was not valid because a minimum of two witnesses was required by the law. According to Jesus, since God gave the law to man, the law could not be applied to Him because He was Deity. “I know where I come“, speaks of His pre-existence. I know “where I am going”, speaks of His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and glorification.

VV 15- 20, 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus had one more witness, His Father who sent Him, speaking of His incarnation. The Pharisees did not believe that God was His Father who sent Him to the world. Jesus spoke these things in the treasury of the temple court of women, but one dared to arrest Him because ‘’His time had not yet come.’’

V21-24, 21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” 22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” 23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

“I am going away”, speaks of His death, burial, redurrection, ascendion, and glorification. “I am from above”, speaks of His pre-existence. Jesus declared to the Pharisees and to us, “if you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins” I AM is the divine, covenantal name of God, “eigo eimi” in Greek and “YHVH” in Hebrews. In Exodus 3:16, God revealed His name to Moses as I AM. If you do not believe that Jesus is I AM, you will die in your sins. At this, the Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy”

V25-26, 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

Jesus revealed His identify but the Pharisees insisted He blasphemed God and wanted to kill Him. Jesus would judged them for this.

V 27-30, 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

‘’Son of Man’’ is a messianic title of Jesus. ‘’Lifting up the Son of Man’’, speaks of His crucifixion. Jesus said, when they crucified Him, they will know that He is I AM. Upon hearing this, many Israelites believed in Jesus.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for the covid 19 pandemic to be terminated soon. We pray that a safe and effective vaccine will be made available to all countries very soon, in Jesus’ name, Amen.