Jesus talks- Pt. I

Have you ever heard someone talking, but were not really listening to them? Or totally not agree with what they were saying? This is what we are looking at tonight.

You are used to hearing me ask that question, what did you hear, what do you see, what sticks out to you when we look at scripture. Desiring you to lean in to hear what God has to say. What does God want to teach me today.

Jesus in our passage tonight makes some very bold statements that were rejected by the Jews, let’s look together at the passage.

Have there been times in your life when you have heard, been told something that was hard to hear, or you refused to hear?

How about words you have had to say that you were concerned how the recipient of the words might take them?

Jesus loves them so much He does not care how they take his bold words. He wants them to get it so they could be saved.

John 8:21–22 NASB95

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.” 22 So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

John 8:23–24 NASB95

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. 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.”

John 8:25–26 NASB95

25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 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.”

John 8:27–28 NASB95

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 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.

John 8:29–30 NASB95

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.” 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

What did you hear, notice, what sticks out to you in this passage?

Without looking at the passage again, what is the main point?

Who does most of the talking in this passage and to who?

Who is the “He” the “Me” and the “your” (v.21)

What assumption do the Jews make (v.22)?

Bold statements again (vv.23-24), what is it?

How does Jesus respond to the Jews question in (v.25)?

What is Jesus inferring to (v.28)?

What does Jesus say about His relationship with the Father (v.29)?

What were the results of this part of the conversation (v.30)?

As we continue this evening here is where I hope to go.

Insulting Jesus (Jn8:21-22)

Two destinies (Jn8:23-24)

Obedience on what the Father says (Jn8:25-27)

Obedience on what the Father does (Jn8:28-30)

Insulting Jesus

What does the word insult, or insulting mean?

Definition: (adj) disrespectful or scornfully abusive

Have you ever been insulted?

Jesus knew where He came from (Jn7:29) and knew where he was going (Jn7:34) - He said He was from above (Jn3:31, 8:23)

The Jews thought they were going to heaven and that Jesus was going to commit suicide the ultimate sin and instant condemnation to Hades to them. They had wrong assumption. They could not go where He was going, to return to the Father who sent Him

Think about this, if we choose not to follow Jesus on earth, what makes us think we would follow Him to heaven and in heaven?

The Pharisees were trying to twist Jesus words on Him, that He was going to Hades and they could not follow Him there. But it was really the exact opposite.

Two destinies

What does the word destiny, or destinies mean?

(N): the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future

John 8:23–24 NLT

23 Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

What destinies is Jesus speaking of in our verses?

Jesus tells them you will die in your sins unless you believe that “I AM” - do you think that still holds true today?

Jesus speaks of two places of origin too, what are they and what is the meaning behind them (v.23)?

They are from this world, He is not, He is from above. They were born of sin, He was not. That is why the statement in (v.24) is a warning to them, believe in Him or you will die in your sins.

The Jewish leaders living in darkness that filled their lives, minds, deeds. The darkness remained because they kept rejecting the truth that Jesus has been speaking. He is warning and instructing them to receive His offer while still available.

Sin must be dealt with. Sin has consequences, die in your sins and be condemned to hell, or deal with them through faith now by your trust and reliance on Jesus and avoid dying in your sins.

The “I AM” is significant for has said that before and it is claim of His deity (Jn4).

Obedience to the Father in what He says

When you were growing up were you obedient to what your father said? Were there consequences if you were not?

Is obedience a part of our Christian walk today, or even becoming a Christian?

Let me put scripture up again so we can review again, then I will discuss more on it

John 8:25–26 NASB95

John 8:27 NASB95

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

Jesus is teaching about His dependence on what the Father says to Him.

Jesus in turn spoke these things to the world.

The world did not realize where this was coming from. He was speaking about the Father.

the Jews were not asking from a sincere heart, but one that wanted to disprove Jesus. They had done this before

Where is your father (Jn8:19)

Will He kill himself (Jn8:22)

Now, Who are you (Jn8:25)

Jesus had told them before and they were not listening to what he was saying (again, hearing but not listening).

Love what BJ Clark says on this portion of scripture

“I could speedily expose all your iniquities, your pride and ambition, your hypocrisy and irreligion, your hatred to the light, and your malice against the truth, together with present obstinate unbelief of your hearts, and show that these are the reasons why I say you will die in your sins.”

Jesus drives home the point again. His words came from the Father. Therefore if they reject His words they are rejecting the Father’s words.

Obedience on what the Father does

Did you ever mimic your parents? In what kind of things?

Why would you be obedient to what your parents said or did?

Jesus previously had said He does what He has seen the Father do (Jn5:19) so this is nothing new here.

John 8:28 GNB

28 So he said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will know that ‘I Am Who I Am’; then you will know that I do nothing on my own authority, but I say only what the Father has instructed me to say.

John 8:29–30 GNB

29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” 30 Many who heard Jesus say these things believed in him.

Jesus is displaying His obedience on what the Father does, never leaves Him.

The lifting up is pointing to the cross, it can also be point to the exaltation at the ascension to take His rightful place next to the Father.

When Jesus was lifted up, they would see His total dependence on the Father. For He had said He would rise on the third day. He also stated “I do nothing of myself.” (Jn5:19, 30)

David Miller said “It is easy to say, ‘I always do the will of the Father’ when you only debate theological points. It is another thing entirely to ‘always do the will of the Father’ when it means going to the cross. The cross would prove the perfect obedience of Jesus.”

The results were “many” came to believe in Him.

Salvation is a matter of life and death, two destinations offered. People who live in their sins and reject the Savior must die in their sins. Those who choose to believe and receive the great give of grace through faith, mercy, forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit have eternal life in the Light, the others in darkness and eternal death.