Joh_8:17 "Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.
This is the continuation of, the "woman accused of Adultery". After releasing her, Yeshua informs the group that He (Jesus) is "the Light of the World". The Pharisees that are present then chide Him, saying that One cannot testify in his own behalf, it's takes at least two, according to Torah (see Deut. 19)! It's interesting to note here that this group had just tried to stone a woman based on accusation alone, without producing at least two witnesses, or the man who was involved, yet they are quoting Torah requirements to Jesus! He, Yeshua, declares that the Father, Yehovah and Himself are the two witnesses! He once again claims a "oneness" with the Father and , thus, His preexistence from the beginning of all things! Remember, Jesus has a duality of being human and God and "One" with Yehovah. It is worthwhile to read it in context - deeply, not superficially.
Joh 8:18 "I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me."
Joh 8:19 So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
Joh 8:20 These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
Joh 8:21 Then He said again to them, "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."
Joh 8:22 So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"
Joh 8:23 And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
[Note: "unless you believe I am". The word, "He" was added by translators. To me, this is more evidence that Yeshua and the Father are "One"!]
Joh 8:25 So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning?
Joh 8:26 "I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."
Joh 8:27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.
Joh 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.
Joh 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."
Joh 8:30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
Joh_10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'?
The conversation with the Pharisees has reached a point where they are about to stone Yeshua for claiming to be One with God. So, Yeshua reminds them of what the Tanakh actually says. He references Psalms 82 and Isaiah 41, where men are spoken of as "gods" (little "g") because we are "sons of God" and thus inheritors of godly things. It is amazing that Yeshua consistently quotes the Torah and the Prophets in order to remind these men that they, themselves, are not following Torah!
Joh_12:34 The crowd then answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?"
The Pharisees are not misunderstanding who the "Son of Man" is. They know from scripture that the title refers to a great Prophet and/or the Messiah. Instead, they are confused because they have an image of the Messiah in their minds represented by King David, a conquering King who remains with them for eternity - one who cannot be "lifted up" (crucified). They cannot comprehend the two characteristics of Messiah, admitted to by many Jewish sages, that the Messiah will come first as a suffering servant, and lastly, as a conquering King! The "Law" references both, but the Pharisees are looking for the Messiah that conquers militarily.
Joh_15:25 "But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, 'THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.'
Chapter 15 of John is very relevant to today's churchy attitude. Yeshua is speaking directly to His followers here. He is referencing; Psalm 35, Psalm 69, and Psalm 109. He is telling them that a person will either be part of the "World" and hate Him, or, they will be part of the "Light" and love Him. And a "qualifier", or "fruit" that can be observed to tell the difference between the two types of people, will be the fact that the "lover" will follow His commandments! A "lover" will follow Torah, celebrate the Feasts, actually do what Yeshua says to do. A "lover" will demonstrate his love by doing! What does the modern Church do? It makes excuses for not following the commandments!
Joh_18:31 So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death,"
This is the famous interaction between the mob, Pilate, and Jesus, when Pilate finds no fault and wants to release Him, but the mob calls for the release of Barabbas, instead. The "Jews", under the control of Rome, were not allowed sentence anyone to death without Pilate's permission.
Joh_19:7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God."
We are still in the interaction with the mob, and this is after Jesus has been scourged (severely beaten). By saying, "Son of God", the Pharisees are saying that Jesus has proclaimed Himself to be God, and therefore should be killed. For me, this is more proof that Yeshua is God in the flesh, just as He claims to be. You see, Yeshua does not break the Law by claiming this, because He is God! The Pharisees, of course, do not understand.
I'll stop here, before getting into the Book of Acts. This exercise will get very interesting when we eventually get into Paul's writings. I will show that Paul, like Jesus, never denies Torah!
The Observer
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