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Commentaries
English
John
  
13The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.14Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me."


The Jews were scandalized by Jesus’ words, "I am," they thought that he was boastful and proud, making himself to be the light of the world. They described his witness as error and lies, exaggerated duping the soul.
Jesus replied, "My witness to myself is true, for I do not measure myself by myself, but by God’s truth with whom I am united always. You do not realize that I came from the Father and to Him I return. I do not speak of myself, but my words accord with God’s truth. My words are true, full of power and blessing."
"Your own words are superficial, for man only sees the husks. You regard yourselves as judges and believe in your abilities to pass judgment rightly. But you are mistaken, you do not know the source of things, nor their impulses or results. The proof of that is that you do not know me. You judge me merely by my humanity, but I abide in God at all times. If you realize that, you would know the true essence of the world."
Christ is the world’s judge, the incarnate truth at the same time. He did not come to condemn or destroy us, but to save us. He did not reject any wretch, criminal or outcast, but wished to save all and draw them into his love. Do not despise anyone, but discern in him the image which Jesus wishes to renew or create.