What Does John 8:42 Mean?

(42) **If God were your Father, ye would love me.**—This follows because they would then be in a relationship of spiritual affinity to Him. God’s children would bear the spiritual image of their Father, and would love Him who came from God, but they were seeking to kill Him (John 8:40). **I proceeded forth and came from God.**—Better, *am come, am here.* His presence with them was the result of His proceeding from God. As the Son of God He had eternal fellowship with the Father. The Incarnation was not the mission of one whose existence was separate from that of God, but it was the mission of the Son who proceeded from the Father. (Comp. John 16:27 *et seq.*) **Neither came I of myself, but he sent me.**—Literally, *for not even of Myself am I come, but He sent Me;* as opposed to the thought that His origin was distinct from the Father. His coming was not His own act, but was a mission from God to the world. But if He is sent from God, if He is present with them from God, if He proceeded from the Father, it must be that all who are true children of God would recognise and love Him. It is important to note here that in our Lord’s own words there is an assertion of the oneness of nature and of will with that of the Father, and yet the distinction of person is maintained. He is come from God, but He proceeded from the divine essence. He proceeded forth, and yet He was sent.