“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15).

At the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus went up to the temple and taught. The Scriptures do not describe the teachings that so amazed the Jews, but Jesus gave the Father the credit for its content: “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me” (v.16). Further, He stated that anyone whose will is in accord with that of the Father would be able to discern the truth of His (Jesus’) message.

Not only that, He said, but if someone speaks authoritatively from knowledge within himself, he is simply seeking to bring recognition to himself. On the other hand, anyone who sincerely seeks to represent the Father and what He has said—one who desires to bring glory to Him, as Jesus did, would certainly tell the truth (vv.17,18).

Possibly the issue, at the time, was over whether it was right to do good on the Sabbath. He rebuked His listeners because they were not really following the law of Moses as they professed. They did not hesitate to perform the good work of circumcision on the Sabbath (v.22), so what was unlawful about making a person whole on the Sabbath? (v.23). Jesus then summed up the basis for His claim that what He was doing was right. “Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but He that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know Him: for I am from Him, and He hath sent me” (vv.28,29).

Did Jesus have to learn any truth, or did He only have to reflect the message of His Father? Man’s learning is only valid as it approaches the absolute knowledge and truth of God in whom there is no error. It is clear that Jesus already knew the truth, because it was given to Him by the Father. He didn’t have to learn it from man, or from His own experience, but from the Father, the source of all wisdom. KBC