Charles Ellicott Commentary John 8:29

"And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him." — John 8:29 (ASV)

The Father hath not left me alone.—The Greek words mean exactly, the Father (or, as the better manuscripts read, without change of meaning, He) left Me not alone; and they are sometimes taken to refer to the time of His mission into the world. The context rather points to their application to every moment of life. He was always conscious of a Presence of which they did not know, but which the future would reveal to them. We will find Him resting in this consciousness again when He looks ahead to the dark hour when the disciples will be scattered, each to his own home, and He will be left, as people would think, alone. (Compare to the note on John 16:32.)

For I do always those things that please him.—It would be less ambiguous to read, because I do always . . . The words provide the reason for the Father’s presence in every act and moment of His life. All things done by Him at all times were in accordance with the Father’s will. In His human nature, perpetual communion is conditioned by perpetual obedience. The same thought recurs in His words to the disciples in John 15:10. Compare also, on the relation of the Son to the Father, the note on John 5:19.

Emphasis should be placed here upon the pronoun in “for I do always.” It was true of His human nature, as distinct from all others, that no act, at any moment of life, had cast its shadow on the brightness of the vision of the Father’s presence. Later in this same discourse (John 8:46), He appeals to their knowledge of His holy life. Here, in words that no one else in human form could ever utter, He appeals to His own consciousness of a life, every act of which was pleasing in God’s presence.

(b) Jesus is Light (continued).

(γ)

True discipleship and freedom (John 8:30–59).

Freedom by the Son’s word (John 8:30–36).

Natural and ethical sonship (John 8:37–47).

Eternal life by the Son’s word. The Son’s eternity (John 8:48–59).