Cross-Examination
Opening Prayer
Lord, as You always please the Father (29), help me always to please You.
Read John 8:21–30
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.”
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.”
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go” (Psa. 143:8).
In any trial the reliability of witnesses is crucial. In the ancient world, a person’s origins were significant in determining both integrity and reliability. By contrasting his heavenly origins as one “from above” with those of his accusers who are “from below” (23), Jesus—now acting as judge in this ongoing trial—is challenging the reliability of his accusers as witnesses. Their self-confessed (25) ignorance of his identity as God’s agent—the Messiah—establishes the conclusion: Jesus’ testimony about himself is trustworthy, that of his accusers is not. It is important that readers remember this as they make their way through the rest of the Gospel narrative.
Given the volatile political situation of the time, Jesus’ warning that his accusers would die in their sins (21,24) has a very physical as well as a spiritual application. However, like the woman caught in adultery, they too are thrown a lifeline—simply believe that Jesus is the Messiah sent by God to reveal the words and deeds of God and be saved (24). Truly, the good news knows no bounds!
However, Jesus knows his accusers will not believe. Their murderous intentions towards him are apparent (John 5:16–18; 7:1,19,25), and they will continue to look for him only in order to kill him (21). Jesus also knows, however, that even as they succeed in their quest, his Father will use his death as the means of enthroning him as King for all eternity (28). The final judgment in this case, when it eventually comes, will not be what it seems. Already, the cross is in view as the Father’s ultimate vindication of the Son and of the truth of his testimony about himself.
Apply
Spend some time meditating on an artistic representation of the crucifixion in the light of verse 28. Marvel that you are gazing on the enthronement of Christ as King.
Closing prayer
Lord, You alone are from above, and all of us are from below, bearing the imprint of this earth. Thank You for one day taking me where You are.
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