Nothing can be more definite than the Son's claim of the power most characteristic of God the Father quickening, and raising the dead; nothing more decided than the Father's resolve to maintain the honor of His incarnate Son, for every title and form of judging is committed to the Son of man, and with the express purpose, which shall surely stand, that all are to honor the Son as they honor the Father.
The Lord still speaks as Son, but as man on earth, and in verse 30 binds together what lie had already unfolded with the various witnesses to His glory in what follows. He was equal to the task of judging, though the lowliest of men; and this just because He was in none of His ways or thoughts independent of the Father. It is the perfection of man: He alone was it, who counted it no object of robbery to be on equality with God. But being God He had become man, for God's glory; and so He says, “I cannot do anything of myself; as I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (Ver. 30.) He saw, He heard, as the perfectly dependent and obedient man, though none could have taken in such a range unless a divine person. He had a will, but it was used in entire subjection to the Father. He saw whatever the Father does to do the same likewise; He heard with an ear opened and wakened morning by morning to hear as the learned, and so He judged; and His judgment was just. There was nothing to distract or mislead, though there was one who sought it with all subtlety. But he was foiled and failed utterly, for here he was assailing not the first man but the Second who had come to do the will of God. Such a purpose of heart maintains in singleness of eye and unswerving fidelity. Thus did the sent One ever walk. Who so competent and suited to judge, and this as man, mankind?
Next we are introduced to the witnesses who testify to Him. “If I bear witness about myself, my witness is not true. It is another that beareth witness about me, and I know that the witness which he beareth about me is true. Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness to the truth. But I do not receive witness from man, but these things I say that ye may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.” (Ver. 31-35.)
John the Baptist then is the first witness, whom the Lord summons in the ready and everlasting love which made nothing of His own testimony, if by any means they might be convinced and believe the truth. For this had He been born, and for this come into the world. He lived on account of the Father, who testified about Him. Never was His an interested or an isolated testimony, but He would waive it and points to His fore-runner. For this purpose had John been raised up beyond denial, and no testimony from among men could be conceived more unimpeachable. His birth, his life, his preaching, his death, all bore the stamp of truthfulness; and never had one pointed to another as he to the Lord Jesus. The Jews too had sought solemnly, and lie had not flinched. Who else had ever so testified before and after the coming of the object of testimony? He was not the Christ, as he confessed and denied not, when men were ready to give him the glory due to the Master. Nor on the other did Christ seek testimony from man; yet to what did He not stoop that souls might be saved? If a man however was to be used at all, none greater than John had arisen among those born of women, as the Lord says. The burning and shining lamp had been a source of joy for a while, but men are inconstant, and the testimony of him who was truly “a voice in the wilderness,” was refused.
The second and greater witness we see in the works of Christ. “But I have the witness greater than of John; for the works which the Father hath given me that I should complete them, the works themselves which I do bear witness about me that the Father hath sent me.” (Ver. 30.) In every way Christ's works testify not merely of so much the power displayed, as their character. What grace and truth shine through them as in Him!
The third witness is the Father's voice. “And the Father who sent me, himself hath borne witness about me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape: and his word ye have not abiding in you, because him whom he sent ye do not believe.” (Vers. 87, 88.) This attestation to the relation and glory of the Son rises still higher—we might have thought to the highest, had not our Lord added another and crowning testimony in that which degenerate Christendom is now learning to abandon with contempt to its own ruin and speedy judgment.