(CHAP. 8)
JESUS alone meets the need of the soul, and, being glorified, gives the Spirit as the power of life, and for testimony to flow out for the blessing of others in a desert world. This is the subject of chapter 7. Chapter 8 speaks of the freedom which the Son gives in view of His own place and relationship; this freedom being in the light, for He is the light of the world and of life.
Life and light are thus again precisely distinguished, however closely connected. Grace bestows life freely (chap. 8). Light is the condition of its existence, and forms the character of its responsibility (chap. 8).
The teaching of this chapter is based upon the remarkable scene in the temple when the crucial question was raised whether the principle which governs God’s house is law, imputing offenses and condemning the guilty, or light which searches the conscience, and, while it exposes, spares the confessed sinner.
The occasion was unique, and to a legal mind unanswerably in favor of law; but human justice is proverbially blind, and most certainly light is foreign to the legal thoughts of men. Taken in adultery, in the very act, could such be brought into the house of God and remain uncondemned? When Phinehas executed judgment in like circumstances, was it not counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore? Were the woman to go free, the name of God would be grievously dishonored, or He were no longer righteous. Will He condemn her and belie His ministry of grace, or deny the character of God and let her go? Jesus will not condemn her, and yet will maintain in the highest way the glory of the Father; for He has not stooped to this poor earth, and even to the dust of it, in order to administer the law, but to bring in light divine, which makes everything manifest. It is not a law-measure merely of man’s responsibility in the flesh, but the nature of God, which is light, before whose eyes all things are naked and laid bare.
This light reaches all that come within its range, and that in grace, where submitted to. Those who refuse it are driven out from the presence of Him who is it.
Jesus leaves them a few moments to the shame which even nature would have taught them. But in vain: conscience, hardened by malice and envy, was proof against His gentle but significant silence. Thinking Him to be caught in their snare, they press their question. In reply, He flashes the light of conviction upon their consciences, not charging them with any specific offense, nor in any wise exculpating the guilty, but raising in their own conscience the question of their state, whether, being what they were, it was seemly in the sight of God that they should act as judges. As for Himself, who alone was left, and qualified to do so, He would not act as a legal judge, nor condemn. He was the light of the world, dispelling darkness for all who were attracted by His grace, and giving light to them instead — that in which the life which grace gives was enjoyed — the light of life.
Who but Himself could witness of the light! Certainly the Pharisees, who judged according to the flesh, knew not the path of light. He alone knew and revealed the Father, from whom He came and to whom He returned. Refusing His testimony, their souls would sink into an ever-deepening darkness and sin, as well as a hatred of Him who was the light. As yet in long-suffering, He shed light upon their consciences, and the Father also bore exclusive testimony to Him in tokens of manifested delight. But, His testimony completed, their own act would seal their doom. His hour was not yet come, but, when they had lifted up the Son of man, too late would they know that He was what He said, and that His testimony of and from the Father was the truth.
That He was the light and His witness true, is the subject to verse 21. He now exposes, not their ignorance (ver. 19), but their origin and certain destiny, apart from faith in Him. Clearly evidenced by their hardened hatred of Himself, they were from beneath. This the world was; and they were of it. He was not of it, but from above, although he testified in grace to the world what He had heard from the Father. Cleaving to their Jewish thoughts and earthly privileges, they would die in their sins — their terrible and only heritage under law. Where He went they could not come.
The heart of Jesus does not repress the joy which the Father’s presence and favor gave Him; and many, touched by it, believe on Him. Plainly He enjoyed that which law could never give; nor was it any product of earthly privilege. He declared the “truth.” It was the revelation of the Father, not merely what was true; and abiding in His word, they should be truly His disciples, and know the truth, and be set free.
But freedom they boasted of, as well as of title in the flesh to earthly promises. Vain boast! They were bondmen to sin, and in consequence had forfeited the promises, and would not remain in the house forever.
The Son, however, could set them free it abiding liberty, but His word had no entrance into them. They were Abraham’s fleshly see but not Abraham’s children; for they were would-be murderers of Him who revealed the truth which He had heard from God, even what He had seen with His Father.
In fact, He had already shown their ignorance, and more, that they were beneath and of the world; but now He traces their character to its fountain-head. Their moral state was derived neither from Abraham nor God; and their deeds of blood were such as they had seen with another who was their father. They had not the faith of Abraham, nor love towards Him who came from God. The devil was their father. He was a murderer and a liar, and its father; and his lusts they desired to do. He stood not in the truth, neither is it in him; for the truth is that which Jesus speaks, revealing the Father. But this, blinded by prejudice and pride, they could not hear, though quite without excuse. They were not of God, — solemn but righteous sentence.
Incensed beyond measure, in impotent anger they rail upon Jesus, dishonoring Him with their words. Called “a Samaritan,” He heeds not the taunt; but a demon He had not, for He honored His Father.
Apart from violence, they could go no further in outrageous insult, and are silenced by the calm and solemn dignity of His words. The Saviour’s heart expands immediately with grace, of which He was the divine and personal expression — full of grace and truth. To keep His word is in no wise to see death unto eternity! How vast and precious a blessing! How needed by the perishing soul of man! Is there not a chord in their heart which shall respond to it? Nay, a response only of reiterated, insistent insult. Had not Abraham and the prophets seen death? What was He to guarantee a soul against it?
To their minds this was an unanswerable argument. But reasoning never attains to the truth of God. Jesus did not assume this power to glorify Himself; He exercised it, and all else, in dependence upon His Father who gloried Him. “He is our God,” said they, but yet knew Him not; Jesus knew and obeyed Him.
Oh! that they had the heart of Abraham, who anticipated with joy the day of Jesus’ glory. The Lord yearned over them in grace; but only so as to occasion their wrath to burst all bounds. If Abraham looked forward to His day, He must pretend to have seen Abraham, so they reasoned. But He was not yet fifty years old! Jesus solemnly replies, “Before Abraham was, I am” a divine fact overthrowing human reasoning.
They had said, He was a Samaritan and had a demon: they were liars. Now they fill up the other trait that proves their parentage, and take up stones to cast at Him. They would be murderers as well of Him who was eternal. But Jesus avoids them and passes out of the Temple. It was their house, and there they established law, and bring in a sinner to be judged by it, while they reject and drive out Him who was the light. But the Father’s house was quite another; there the Son abides, and fills its heavenly courts with light, setting poor souls free to enjoy it, where death has no place, but where He is, in whom God’s saints ever exulted, and will do so throughout eternity.