John 8:18 (NASB)

Bible Commentary

John 8:18 is a Bible verse in the New Testament where Jesus is confronting the unbelieving Pharisees about who He is. Though God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a human being to identify with and relate to people, Jesus lived as an uncommon man. After all, He was God as much as He was man.

He spoke with a wisdom and anointing that had never been heard before. He had an uncommon ministry, healing and leading people. He had uncommon relationships, communing not only with the righteous, but with sinners.

He was an uncommon leader, personifying servanthood as the example. He had an uncommon love for his family, taking care of his mother from the cross when He was the One dying. He had uncommon compassion, asking the Father to forgive the very soldiers who were crucifying Him.

It is no wonder that the Pharisees, hung up on all their rules, laws and traditions, confronted Jesus about who He said He was. In John 8:13, the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”

They insisted that His testimony about Himself was not valid because He spoke these things about Himself, as John 8:18 says. According to their law, it took two men for a testimony to be deemed true.

Unlocking the Truth – God the Father Said So.

Jesus’ response in John 8:18 was, “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” There could be no greater witness than God Almighty.

Let’s look at the Greek meanings of “testify” which are: be a witness, give evidence, bear record, have good report, be well reported of.

The hearts and minds of the Pharisees were not in the least bit open to the possibility that Jesus was the Son of God. Instead, they held fast to their law, unwilling to change their traditions, and their status the law afforded them.

Let’s go back to a time when there is a clear picture of God the Father testifying about Jesus. From the Mount of Transfiguration, John and Peter heard the words of God in Mark 9:7, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Not only was there a clear audible testimony (good report) from God the Father, there was visual evidence, as Jesus’ garments turned radiant and shining.

We are Approved

As a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour, you are a child of God. He is God the Father to Jesus, yes, but He is also God and Father to you.

Don’t we all yearn for our earthly fathers to approve of and even to praise us? Of course we do. We want their approval. No matter what the status of our relationship is with our father, good or bad, existent or not, we can be assured of a good report about us by our Heavenly Father. How can we be sure?

Because God sees us through the perfection of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”

We are approved by Him, not accused by Him.

No matter how loud the winds of guilt and insecurity ring in our ears, we must stand firm in the truth that we are innocent in Jesus Christ. Let’s take courage and look behind us at the black fog following us around, and reach right through it to the clarity of truth and freedom.

We each have a good report…because Jesus does. God the Father said so.

Study the Bible verse of John 8:18 to know you have a good report from your Heavenly Father. Jesus made it so.

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