The Confusion of the Enemies

The Confusion of the Enemies

John 8:21–32

One of the most evident characteristics of Christ’s enemies is their confusion about spiritual matters which evidenced itself especially in their confusion about Christ. They were very ignorant and undiscerning in the most important areas of life. No wonder Jesus called these religious leaders “blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14).

I. The Promise for the Confusion (John 8:21, 22) Christ promised that He would leave. This spoke of the ascension, but the enemies’ ignorance of it only confused them.

A. The declaration in the promise. “I go my way” (John 8:21). Christ would ascend to heaven after the crucifixion. The ascension is called “my way.” Christ will not leave man’s way.

B. The desire in the promise. “Ye shall seek me” (John 8:21). This desire to find Christ will not be a holy desire. The enemies will only seek Him to kill Him.

C. The damnation in the promise. “Ye … shall die in your sins” (John 8:21). This warning promised damnation. To die in your sins is to die with sins unforgiven. It is the worst way to die.

D. The denial in the promise. “Whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:21). Heaven will not open up for the enemies of Christ. Those who die in their sins will not go to heaven to dwell where Christ is.

E. The dumbness about the promise. “Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go ye cannot come” (John 8:22). This deduction by the enemies really exposes their spiritual dumbness. Such dumbness regarding spiritual matters is typical of the unbelieving world. They cannot understand the Scriptures and have strange thoughts about God. When you reject Christ, this is one of the damning products of the rejection.

II. The Perdition for the Confused (John 8:23, 34)

Christ further elaborates on the perdition of His enemies. Their future is one of damnation.

A. The categories for perdition. “Ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23). The enemies of Christ were fleshly, worldly, temporal in their thinking—much like most of the people today. Christ, however, is heavenly, far above the thoughts of most people.

B. The cause of perdition. “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Christ speaks of the cause of perdition for His enemies. It is twofold. First, the lack of faith cause. “Ye believe not that I am he.” Failure to believe in Jesus Christ will bring eternal condemnation. Second, the lack of forgiveness cause. “Die in your sins.” Three times in this section (John 8:21, 24, 24) Christ speaks of dying in your sins. As we have already noted, to die in your sins means you die with your sins unforgiven which will send you to hell for eternity.

III. The Perplexity in the Confusion (John 8:25–27)

The enemies of Christ were greatly perplexed about Jesus Christ. Spiritually they were perplexed about the most important matters of life.

A. Their perplexity about the Man. The enemies of Christ were perplexed about Christ’s identity. First, the confession of their perplexity. “Who art thou?” (John 8:25). The enemies of Christ did not know Christ’s true identity. Second, the condemnation of their perplexity. “Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning” (John 8:25). The enemies’ perplexity about Christ was condemned by Christ’s answer. Christ’s answer indicated that the enemies had not been listening well to Christ’s message, for He had already told them Who He was. Their perplexity was without excuse. They could have known if they had wanted to know who Christ was, but their unbelief was wilful and belligerent—they did not want to know.

B. Their perplexity about the message. “They understood not that he spake to them of the Father” (John 8:27). Christ spoke of “he that sent me” (John 8:26) and “those things which I have heard of him” (John 8:26) and the enemies did not realize He was speaking of God the Father. Spiritually they were dunces. But if you reject Christ, you inherit great spiritual ignorance.

4. The Prophecy in the Confusion (John 8:28, 29) Christ prophesied mainly about Calvary. The enemies of Christ were too confused by unbelief to get the message.

A. The crucifixion in the prophecy. “When ye have lifted up the Son of man” (John 8:28). This speaks of the crucifixion of Christ when He was lifted up on the cross.

B. The culprits in the prophecy. “When ye have lifted up the Son of man” (John 8:28). The “ye” says the enemies of Christ will be guilty of bringing about the crucifixion.

C. The cognizance in the prophecy. “Then shall ye know that I am he” (John 8:28). The crucifixion will reveal to many unbelievers the true identity of Christ.

D. The companion in the prophecy. “He that sent me is with me; the Father hath not left me alone” (John 8:29). Christ speaks of the presence of His heavenly Father, Who was the One Who sent Christ to earth.

E. The conforming in the prophecy. “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). Christ was perfectly obedience. Oh, that more of God’s people could say they always did those things that please God.

V. The Proselytes from the Confusion (John 8:30–32) Everyone did not reject Christ. In spite of the enemies’ attacks on Christ, some folk still listened to Christ believed.

A. The proclamation of converts. “As he spake these words, many believed on him” (John 8:30). As we will note shortly, the “many” were not all genuine. Earlier in John 2:23–25 is recorded that fact that some who believed were not genuine conversions and so “Jesus did not commit himself unto them” (John 2:24). Churches and evangelists are so ready to boast of the decisions in their meetings, they forget that many decisions are not real. We need to wait awhile before we count decisions.

• The proof of conversion. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). This text does not prescribe how to be saved but gives the proof of salvation. If one is truly saved they will “continue in my word.” They will not fade away after a few weeks, but the Word of God will have a strong grip on their hearts.

B. The promise for converts. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). This is a great and encouraging promise.

1. First, the character of the promise. “Ye shall know the truth.” This speaks, of course, of spiritual truth. This is the greatest knowledge of all, but few are interested in it. People are more interested in secular than spiritual.

2. Second, the compensation of the promise. “The truth shall make you free.” This speaks of spiritual freedom. Freedom from the shackles of sin. Freedom from blindness about error.