Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior

Introduction

Last week, we saw that Jesus was testifying about his ministry.

We saw that the religious leaders would not accept his testimony, because there was no one present to corroborate his testimony.

Jesus pointed out that his Father (God the Father) was the other testimony about his ministry—because God the Father was the one that actually sent him on his mission.

Time Marker

John 8:21 NIV

Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

The marker “once more” is the Greek word “palin” can also mean again, once more, furthermore, on the other hand, yet. It marks a short break in the discussion (v. 21a).

So, this event most likely took place around the same time as Jesus’ discussion of being the light of the world.

His statement has several parts that we should notice (v. 21b):

Jesus says he is going away—indicating he is going to leave them. Jesus is referring to his ultimate return to God the Father (cf. 7:33-34).

He says that the people (including the religious leaders) will look for him. This phrase has two meanings:

They will physically look for him but not be able to find him.

It can also be a statement that their ability to accept Jesus as the Messiah is limited (I think this is the better meaning based on the context).

Jesus says that the people around him will indeed die in their sin—the sin of disbelief!

Jesus closes with the statement that the people will NOT be able to go where he was going (cf. 7:34; 13:33).

The Jew’s Response

John 8:22 NIV

This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

The Jews do not understand the true meaning of what Jesus is talking about (v. 22):

First, they ask if Jesus will actually kill himself—commit suicide?

They think that is what Jesus is saying when he states that they can’t go where he is going.

The key is that they are missing the thought altogether. This teaching follows Jesus’ second “I am” (light of the world).

Back in chapter 7 (during the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths) Jesus had already told the religious leaders that his time on earth was short and they could not go where he was going to go (cf. 7:33-34). But they did not understand him then (cf. 7:35-36).

Answering the Question of 8:19

— “Where is your father?” John 8:19 “Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

John 8:23 NIV

But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

He says that they (his audience) are from below. This appears to be a reference to the fact that they were fallen beings (earthly, worldly, not heavenly) (v. 23a).

He is from above (from heaven; from God the Father) (v. 23b).

To make his point more clear—he says tells them that they are of this world and that he is not of this world. This refers to the religious leaders being fallen individuals, while he was still godly or sinless in his existence (v. 23c).

John 8:24 NIV

I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

Jesus says that he has already told them that they would die in their sinful state—if they do not believe that he is the Messiah (v. 24a).

The Greek actually says, “unless you believe I am” (cf. Exod. 3:14) which clearly means Jesus is claiming to be the I am of the O.T. so he is claiming to be God! Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

Jesus reiterates that they are going to die in their lost and sinful state—because they don’t believe in him (v. 24b).

Angry & Confused!

John 8:25 NIV

“Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.

The Jews react to the message of Jesus with both confusion and anger. They ask, “Who are you?” (v. 25a). This could be taken two ways:

First it could be taken as confusion, “wait we don’t understand, exactly who are you?”

Or it could be taken as an angry response, “exactly who do you think you are?”

Perhaps the best interpretation of this question has a bit of both elements to it.

Jesus’ Response

Jesus tells them that he is exactly the person he said he was from the very beginning (v. 25b).

He is still claiming to be: the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who forgives sin, the One who heals, He is God in human form, He is the great “I AM” of the Old Testament!

John 8:26 NIV

“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

Jesus tells them that he has a lot to say, and much of what he has to say would sit in firm judgment against them (v. 26a).

However, the One who sent Jesus to them (God the Father) is trustworthy (Gk. alethes: true, real, truthful, righteous, honest, genuine, authentic. Same word used back in 7:18; 8:13, 14, 17) (v. 26b).

And Jesus is ONLY going to tell the world what he has directly heard from the Father (v. 26c).

Clearing Up the Confusion for the reader’

John 8:27 NIV

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.

It is obvious from reading the account, that the Jews were genuinely confused about exactly who Jesus was claiming to be. John does not want there to be in doubt in the reader’s mind about the claims Jesus was making!

John wants us to know that Jesus was telling them about God the Father!

Jesus Continues to Clarify

John 8:28 NIV

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

Jesus uses a strange phrase, When you have lifted up the Son of Man. It could be translated, When you have exalted the Son of Man. Jesus is saying that when they nail Jesus to the cross then they will know. . . (v. 28a)

When they nail Him to the cross, they will realize that Jesus is the I am (v. 28b). The English text reads, “I am he,” however in the Greek the “he” is implied. So Jesus actually uses the Old Testament phrase, I am (cf. Exod. 3:13-15). Jesus again connects himself to the great I AM of Scripture, and claims to be Him. That means that Jesus was actually claiming to be God!

Because Jesus is part of the God-head, what he never spoke on his own, but only spoke what the Father told him to say (v. 28c).

John 8:29 NIV

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Jesus goes on to say the one who sent him (God the Father) is still with him (v. 29a).

He reiterates the fact that God, up to this point, has NEVER left him (v. 29b).

The reason for his unity with God the Father is that he ALWAYS does what pleases the Father (v. 29c).

Many Believed

John 8:30 NIV

Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

The result of this interaction in the temple was that many in crowd believed in him (cf. 7:31).

So What?

In our passage today, Jesus warns that failing to believe in him will lead to death—this is a reference to eternal separation from God for eternity.

This is a message that they will not understand until after Jesus’ resurrection.

We learn that Jesus is going to return to his Father.

He emphasizes that the only way to join Jesus and His Father is by trusting in the Savior (Jesus, himself).

We learn that sin is comprised of two elements:

It is something that is inherent to us as people—our sin nature.

And sin is something that we do—we do wrong things, we sin!

Finally we learn that obedience to Jesus is a life long. We must learn to live in constant obedience to Him.

Finally, we see in this passage that Jesus repeatedly presents all kinds of proof of who he is. Jesus provided proof through:

The miracles he preformed

The compassion he shared

The message he shared

The teachings he taught

And through his sinless, perfect life.

The question today is simple!

QUESTION: Have you put your faith and trust in Christ?

If your answer to this question is “No” then want to plead with you to say yes to the greatest gift ever given—the gift of being placed into a right relationship with Jesus Christ so that you can move from being an enemy of God to be His valued child—a Child of the King!

QUESTION: If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then I want to ask you if you are living in obedience to Jesus?

We are going to learn that living in obedience to Jesus is a life long process—I choose to obey today, tomorrow and day by day!

In John 14, Jesus said,

John 14:23 NIV

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

I want to challenge each of us to show, or demonstrate our love by our obedience.

At kids’ camp we sing a song that says: to love and obey, it’s the only way, to love and obey is the only way of pleasing You—pleasing Jesus.

Let’s work this week to love and obey what all that Jesus has commanded.

Simply said, we need to:

Love God

And Love people!