When I was young I was taught to memorize some things. That Jesus is the light of the world. What they did not say is that when he said it he was accused instantly.
He was asked to cite his sources. And he cited God. The interesting thing is the comment on judging: the Pharisees were very good and judging, on making rules, about finer and finer things — these had yet to codified into the Babylonian Talmud, (that happened in about 200 AD) but the tendency to judge was there.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
(John 8:12-20 ESV)
Now here we have to bc careful. Firstly, Christ said that the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses. They had most of their theology correct: the difficulties with the theology are best seen in the work of Paul, who was a fully trained rabbi, and a Pharisee.
Secondly, we also question Christ. We think that his teaching is old-fashioned, not acceptable, not akin to the realities of this age. Or we think of the gospel as superstition, and the important thing about his light is social action.
We need tor recall that in our judging and in our classification we are all unworthy. No human has the correct perspective. And Christ is the only one without sin. So true, we should not condemn. But much importantly, we should not damn God. Therein lies our own perdition.
John 2.15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
Question
Is it a sin to give money lenders a good flogging???