John chapter 8

vs 12

John repeats the claims of Jesus in his first chapter - but here is Jesus claiming it for himself. Obviously he does not mean he is light in that when you're a Christian you can see in the dark. If we will have the light of life, then surely that means we are currently in the darkness of death.

vs 13

In the OT, you needed two or three witnesses for your testimony to be valid. This doesn't seem like a legal case to me - Jesus is just speaking - but they seem to feel the need for other people to validate his testimony. Because, you know, John the Baptist and blind people who can see and lame people who can walk aren't good enough.

vs 14

Jesus takes umbrage at basically being called a liar, and tells them that he knows where he's from and where he's going, which is more than he can say for the Pharisees.

vs 15

I've sort of having my feelings changed on judgement and judging others. I don't think the Brethren are the healthiest place to grow up as a mature Christian to have a biblical understanding of judgement and active faith. Let me explain that though. The Christian Brethren, and our doctrines and practices, have been criticised as antinomian. That means we think as long as someone "prays the prayer" that they are now forever saved, and there is nothing more they need to doto be saved. In fact, we go a step further and say there's absolutely nothing we can do to be saved (very Lutherish) and we therefore devalue any sort of activity that is not spiritual or missionary (in as far as it makes people "pray the prayer").

Jesus says he stands in judgement of no one. What he means, obviously, is that he stands in judgement of no one yet. Because he has judged people. He has judged the Pharisees several times and found them wanting. So how can he stand here and say that he doesn't judge people when he obviously has, not to mention when in the end times he will sit as judge?

The reason is because I think he is making a difference between weighing up someone's actions and attitude having some sort of ability of discrimination (being able to make a character judgement, if you will) and making an end times judgement (making a legal judgement).

We cannot and we must not pretend to guard the gates of heaven, judging people in a legal sense as to whether they will be in heaven or not. But we can and must discriminate between people regarding their status with God, and we can really only do that based on their character and actions. John himself says that a person who says "I love God" but hates their brother is not living a Christian life. That doesn't mean I condemn them to hell. Jesus will do that, if the person is a hypocrite. I will leave the legal judgement to Him who judges justly. But it means that I should be wary of this so that I can help the person, and also be wary that they might not be on the side I think they're on. This isn't a matter of doctrinal difference or a matter of peripheral cultural activity. We've got to be sensitive to these and weed them out so as not to be unfair. But you can't just take people at their word as to whether they are Christian or not. It doesn't mean treat all new people with suspicion, it just means that as time goes on, if they walk like a duck, and quack like a duck, and swim like a duck...

vs 16

Ahhh, so Jesus might end up judging in the legal sense, and if he does, his judgements will be valid, because God stands next to him and upholds his judgements. See, even Jesus was not adverse to a little bit of hyperbole.

vs 17

Like I was saying before. Interesting he calls it their own Law - not his law.

vs 18

Jesus and God make two pretty powerful witnesses.

vs 19

They just don't get it, though. They think he's talking about his earthly father (who we are to understand from other gospels is not the biological father), but of course he's talking about his heavenly father, who would stand beside him in judgement.

Jesus points out to them that if they really knew Jesus and who he was, they'd know who his Father is. But they're thick as two short planks.

vs 20

Then we just get a wrapup verse about where he was, and why he wasn't arrested. The theme of "not getting arrested" goes through the gospels. It must have been an exciting time to be a disciple.