“What were you doing yesterday evening?” asked the detective.

What do you say? “I was alone officer, reading, in my living room.” Well, that’s not gonna convince anyone. You don’t even know what your suspected of yet, you don’t have a good alibi, and they’re not just gonna take you on your word that you were sitting with a glass of wine and a copy of Calvin’s institutes.

You need a witness to prove your innocence.

In this passage we get to see one of those cosmic events in which the temporal world begins to sing in harmony with eternity. Jesus hasn’t yet been tried, but in the court of public opinion the jury was still out. Jesus is called to the stand,

I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

— John 8:18-19

Strong words.

Who else could Jesus swear by though? John’s gospel opens with a retelling of the creation narrative. Jesus is testifying here to being the light of the world, but more than he’s identifying himself with the Father. He isn’t only the light of the world, but the one through whom every light was breathed into existence. Were his prosecutors there when the foundations of the world were laid? When God made a covenant with Abraham, he bore witness to his own faithfulness.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”

— Hebrews 6:13–14

Jesus is doing the same here.

By whose name could he swear that is greater than his own?

As we pray, think about Jesus witness and another cosmic trial which is about to take place. You’ll appear before the prosecution. You’ll stand trial for your crimes, who will take the stand to witness on your behalf? Who will stand in your place? Who took the punishment that trial should end with?

Let’s pray.

Praying Through Scripture

Lord,

You have born witness about yourself,Through your life, you proved your guiltlessness before the world,In your death, you took on the guilt of that same world,Into your resurrection, we are now called to the home of all homes.

Most blessed Saviour, thank you for revealing yourself to me,by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit,by whom I am being conformed to your image.Now I know you, I know the Father also.

Amen

Today’s Readings

* John 8

* Psalm 25

* Exodus 9-11

Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, Amon his son, Josiah his son. The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.

— 1 Chronicles 3:11-15

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