John 8:21–30 Sermon
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 809 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Scripture Text
Scripture Text
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “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 authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 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 was saying these things, many believed in him.
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we covered verses 12-20 of John chapter 8.
There we saw Jesus speaking according to in the treasury, as he taught in the temple.
The treasury being the treasury hall where the general public were allowed in the temple.
In verse 12 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.”
The treasury was a public place in the temple;
Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 321.
We talked about two things that happened when one followed what Christ said.
1. First, Whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness.
2. The second thing that would happen to those who follow Christ is that they would have the light of life
Because Jesus was and is the light of the world one would no longer walk in darkness.
Darkness being the state of not believing in Christ. Which is someone who’s works are evil, worldly and deserving of God’s just punishment because of sin and rebellion. Which we saw clearly in the responses of people who rejected what He was declaring.
Verse 13 showed us what man apart from the light of Christ which is life say when hearing what Jesus was crying out and declaring.
13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”
They rejected His witness which is what a non-believer does.
And though Jesus had the witness of God the Father, John the Baptist, His own works (which proved that He was the Messiah) and the Scriptures that spoke about Him (and Moses), this was not enough for them.
This very situation proved what John wrote in chapter 1:9-11,
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
This showed us that man (which in context here was the Pharisees who even had the Scriptures), it showed us that man could have the Scriptures but not have Christ.
Because they didn’t have Christ and rejected His testimony, they were in darkness and without life. Which meant that they did not believe.
They denied the truth of who Jesus Christ was because they judged according to the flesh.
A denial of Jesus is a direct denial of the Father.
The truth of man apart from faith in Jesus Christ is that they do not know the God that they professed to believe in.
19 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.”
A denial of Jesus is a direct denial of the Father.
This text echoed what Paul said in
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
This is the preceding text to our text today.
Jesus is the light of the world but the world rejected Him, His own rejected Him but those who believe in His testimony are given life.
In today’s text we do see three things.
In today’s text we do see three things.
1. Their ignorance apart from Christ (v.21-22)
1. Their ignorance apart from Christ (v.21-22)
2. The exposed condition apart from Christ (v.23-29)
2. The exposed condition apart from Christ (v.23-29)
3. The belief of many in Christ (v.30)
3. The belief of many in Christ (v.30)
Sermon
Sermon
1. Their ignorance apart from Christ (v.21-22)
1. Their ignorance apart from Christ (v.21-22)
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Verse 21 starts with Jesus saying something to them again.
Which we can find in
34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.”
Considering the context of , Jesus during the feast of booths was accused and sought for arrest by the crowds and the religious leaders.
In the following verse in 7:35 we see also that they had no clue about what Jesus meant when speaking about not being found and that where He would go they would not be able to go.
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
They proved consistently that they did not know and understand what Jesus was speaking of concerning where He was going.
In we see this again.
22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: John Exegetical and Critical
According to Josephus, De Bello Jud. III. 8, 5, the self-murderer goes to the σκοτιώτερος ᾅδης. Thus, according to the orthodox Jewish doctrine, to which the Pharisees bore allegiance, the suicide falls to the lowest hell of Hades, and is separated by a great gulf from Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:26), into which they hoped to go.
According to Josephus, those who committed suicide went to the lowest hell of Hades.
They were separated by a great gulf from Abraham’s bosom (), into which they hoped to go.
So their response in verse 22 was not only out of ignorance but it was said to mock Jesus as one who would go to the lowest place in Hades.
Some noted that the Jews (the religious leaders) were mocking Christ when saying that Jesus was speaking of suicide which was offensive.
I think the more imortant question
Again, we see that they did not understand what Jesus was saying.
It is very clear that they did not understand what Jesus was saying.
Why was this the case? Why was it that many did not understand what Jesus meant? And why was Jesus met with arrest, accusation and hatred for what He was saying?
In the previous chapters we have seen a pattern of people not knowing what Jesus meant when speaking of Himself as who He was.
Not only here but also in the chapter before we have seen a pattern of people not knowing what Jesus meant when speaking of Himself as who He was.
Examples of them not knowing what He was saying are all over the gospel if John.
Examples of them not knowing what He was saying are all over the gospel if John.
22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
shows us that they (the Jews) didn’t know He was speaking about the temple of His body
John 3:3–4 Nicodemus didn’t know that what He meant when speaking of being born again
the woman at the well didn’t know what He meant when speaking of living water
the disciples didn’t know about the bread Jesus spoke of which meant that His hunger was for the will of God to be done
the Jews didn’t know that Jesus healing on the Sabbath was permissible because of who He was
they didn’t believe that Jesus was equal with the Father
they believed in the writings of Moses but refused to believe that they were speaking of Jesus
(which speaks about the feeding of the five thousand in ) it tell us that their hearts were hardened and it showed that they did not understand what the feeding of the five thousand was meant to show
this shows us that they did not see Jesus as living bread
they thought that Jesus was speaking of His flesh
they called what Jesus had said “a hard teaching” His own brothers did not believe
John 7:40–41 people were divided as to who Jesus was
they said that the testimony of Jesus was not true
Throughout these passages we also saw that they questioned Him and sought to kill and arrest Him.
So what was at the core of their not believing in what Jesus said about Himself? Why was this the case? Why was it that many did not understand what Jesus meant? And why was Jesus met with arrest, accusation and hatred for what He was saying?
We see the answer in their reaction to what Jesus said in verse 21.
Jesus said,
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Then they said in John 8:22,
22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
Notice what they didn’t address.
Notice what they didn’t address.
Jesus said:
Jesus said: “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Their response to this was: “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
and you will seek me
and you will die in your sin
Jesus said (Where I am going you cannot come)
you cannot come.
They said (
Notice what they didn’t say.
They didn’t address what Jesus said about their sin.
He told them that they would will die in their sin. Which is exactly why they could not understand and believe what He was saying.
This was the cause of their ignorance and inability to understand and believe what Jesus was saying.
Let me define as to what I mean by ignorance.
The Dictionary of Bible Themes defined ignorance as:
A lack of knowledge of God, regarded as inexcusable by Scripture. God has made his existence, nature and power known to all through creation. God himself is not ignorant of human sin, but is able to discern the real intentions of human minds and wills.
By ignorance I am not meaning a lack of information but a rejection of it which proves a lack of knowledge and a hatred for God.
In their rejection they proved what their condition was before God.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The consistent ignorance on display in this gospel exposes their condition before God and it is without excuse.
They are given in the flesh the very Word of God Himself and they reject Him which proves their ignorance and evil before God.
The exposed condition apart from Christ is evident and clear.
2. The exposed condition apart from Christ (v.23-29)
2. The exposed condition apart from Christ (v.23-29)
23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “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 authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 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.”
John 8:23-
He said to them four things that would show clearly their condition before God.
He said to them four things that would show clearly their condition before God.
1. You are from below
1. You are from below
The King James Version said “Ye are from beneath.” Which helps us with capturing what Jesus meant here.
Jesus here is speaking of them as not being from above but earthly.
An example of this can be found in .
15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
It was also a reference to Hades.
Being from below meant that they were not from above which would have been the same as saying that they were earthly, unspiritual and even demonic since they were not of the Father.
2. You are of this world
2. You are of this world
The world here is not in reference to the natural world.
It is speaking of the system of practices and standards that are associated with secular culture and society.
It is meant to speak of what is worldly.
John warned believers of it in
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him which speaks of those who are from below and of this world.
Jesus is telling them that this is exactly who they are and it is the reason for their rejection.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
Jesus also said things about Himself that revealed their condition before God.
3. I am from above
3. I am from above
Being from above shows us His position in comparison to those who are in the world and from below.
He was from above. Or we could say He was from the Father who was sent.
Jesus just told them that they were from below or beneath and now He says about Himself that He is from above.
How do you think the religious here felt about what Jesus had said?
Jesus in telling them the truth of Him being from above showed that their rejection of Him was a direct rejection of the Father. Which shows us that they were not of faith.
They were of the world but Jesus said of Himself (which is the fourth)
4. I am not of this world
4. I am not of this world
Jesus is not from or even under the system of practices and standards that are associated with secular culture and society.
In fact, what He said was in contradiction to it.
Again, that is why He said in ,
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
The system, the practices and standards of the world are evil because they seek to run things and do things apart from God.
That is why Jesus called them evil.
The religious in our text sought to be about the Scriptures without Jesus Christ in whom the Scriptures were all about.
One can make the mistake of thinking that just because they look religious they are ok.
Worldliness can include looking religious and devotional.
We have to be at this point very cautious.
What doesn’t guard us from being worldly is not being worldly.
What guards us from being worldly is conforming to the image of Christ.
Let me explain.
A preoccupation with not being worldly can and will turn to law keeping legalism.
But a preoccupation with Christ brings life, freedom and obedience!
Not being of the world means that we have Christ and we are conforming to Christ for His glory and our good.
Jesus is not of this world and neither are we who are born from above as Jesus stated in John chapter 3. Being born again means to be born from above.
These four things:
1. Being from below
2. Being of this world
3. Jesus being from above
4. And Jesus being not of this world,
they reveal the impoverished condition of those who are earthly and worldly.
It shows their evil and their need for what Jesus had been saying about Himself from the beginning!
25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
What has Jesus said about Himself from the beginning? (From John chapter 5 and on)
What has Jesus said about Himself from the beginning? (From John chapter 5 and on)
If we go back to John chapter five and on we can see some of what Jesus was saying about Himself.
Jesus spoke of Himself as the One now working
Jesus spoke of Himself as the One who gives life
Jesus spoke of Himself as the One who judges
Jesus spoke of Himself as the One who’s voice would be heard by the dead that in hearing His voice they would rise to life
Jesus spoke of Himself as the One who the Scriptures were speaking of
Jesus spoke of Himself as the One who Moses wrote about
Jesus spoke of Himself as the Bread of Life
Jesus spoke of Himself as the Bread that would give life the those who would believe
Jesus spoke of Himself as the Light of the World
Jesus made it very clear who He was and this is why Jesus would say in verse 26,
26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”
So everything Jesus was saying concerning Himself was said because it is what the Father was saying about Him.
Jesus said also in ,
32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.
Everything Jesus said about Himself was true and it was given to Him to say by the Father who is true.
So a rejection of this shows the evil and lost condition of those rejecting it.
27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.
This proves that they did not know God as their Father.
Jesus would go on to speak again about Himself as the One who would be lifted up.
28 So Jesus said to them, “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 authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
Jesus said,
Jesus said,
“When you have lifted up [crucified] the Son of Man [messianic title]
then you will know [they would know when He is lifted up] that:
you will know [when He is lifted up]
I am he [the Messiah] [the Son of Man]
I do nothing on my own authority [apart from the Father He does nothing]
speak just as the Father taught me [He speaks just as the Father had spoken] from verse 26. Being taught here is in reference of His humility. Where He said and did everything the Father told Him to say and do.
Everything Jesus did was done because it is what the Father wanted Him to do. And He did it flawlessly, without sin and error.
Being taught here is in reference of His humility.
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.”
It is very clear that in speaking of who Jesus is we will see where a person is before God.
A rejection of who Jesus is proves one’s own condemnation.
And obedience is proven in trusting in the finished work of Christ.
Which brings assurance because of the work of Christ.
Which we actually see happen in verse 30 when people believe what Jesus had said about Himself.
3. The belief of many in Christ (v.30)
3. The belief of many in Christ (v.30)
30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Those who believe are those who:
will not die in their sins
will go to where Jesus is going
will go to where Jesus is going
are not of this world
will go to where Jesus is going
are not of this world
who are from above (born from above)
who are from above (born from above)
believe what Jesus had been saying from the beginning
believe what Jesus had been saying from the beginning
those who understand what Jesus had said about the Father
those who understand what Jesus had said about the Father
Believed in the Son of Man who was lifted up
Believed in the Son of Man who was lifted up
know that Jesus did not come in His own authority
know that Christ speaks what the Father has given Him to speak
know that Jesus did not come in His own authority
know that Christ speaks what the Father has given Him to speak
believe that the Son always pleased the Father
believe that the Son always pleased the Father