What Jesus Did! 'What Greater Witness?' — John 8:17-18

Monday, June 13, 2022

[Jesus continued his response to the Pharisees' accusation,] "Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other."
— John 8:17-18 NLT

Key Thought

What witnesses could Jesus call to prove he came from God? He needed two witnesses under Jewish law. He had more than two, but the first two are the most important. Jesus himself was a witness and so was his Father. Elsewhere in the Gospel of John, Jesus lists John the Baptist, his own mighty works, and even those who saw his miracles as his witnesses. [1] However, only two witnesses really know that Jesus came from God — the Son and the Father. Once again, Jesus is pushing people — including us — to make a hard and definitive choice: Is he a blasphemer who is saying the unthinkable, or is he really from God? Jesus leaves us no middle ground. So what is your decision?

[1] John 5:31-38. Note: In John 5:31, Jesus said that testimony about himself would not be valid while in John 8:14, 17-18, he said that testimony about himself is valid. Conservative scholars generally say Jesus was talking in 5:31 about the view of the Jewish leaders to whom he was speaking while in 8:14, 17-18, he said his testimony was valid because it agreed with the Father's, which is really the only one that matters.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I confess that I often find it hard to make difficult and potentially life-altering decisions. I don't like them. I fear that I will make the wrong decision. But, dear Father, I really do want to honor you with all my heart and to live as a person of faith and integrity. So today I renew my decision to believe that Jesus is your Son and that he came as your presence in our world and showed us you in all your fullness. I trust him as my Savior and follow him as my Lord. I give you all thanks and praise, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 1:6-9
  • John 17:20-21
  • John 20:30-31

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Illustration

Illustration of John 8:17-18 NLT — "Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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