John 8:21-25

 

John 8:21 (KJB)

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

 

Jesus states that He will go His way, that is, He will go to the cross, be buried, and then resurrect on the third day thus securing the salvation for His people. Christ’s way is the way of salvation and the way of the Pharisees is bondage to religion. Their religion combined with hatred for Jesus will continue to cause them to seek for the Messiah but because they have rejected the true Messiah, they will continue to look for him but their look will be in vain and even though it takes a lifetime, they will never find the Messiah and that means they will die in their sins. If they had recognized Jesus as the Messiah, their search would be ended but since they rejected Him, there would be no other Messiah. Since they would die in their sins, they would be sentenced to eternal Hell and would not be allowed into Heaven by attempting to keep the law. This is why they could not go where Jesus was going because entrance into Heaven is by Christ and not the law.

 

(Heb 10:26-29 KJV) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, {27} But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. {28} He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: {29} Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

 

Hebrews 10:26-29 would tie into the principle taught in John 8:21. The Jews had received the knowledge of the truth because Jesus was the truth who walked before them. Their rejection of Him was a willful sin and because of this rejection, there will be no more sacrifice for sin. The sacrifice of Christ was the final sacrifice for sin and as the Jews continued in the Mosaic law, they believed they were getting their sins forgiven by means of following the ceremonial law. However, in Hebrews 10:29, we see the consequences of rejecting the sacrifice of Christ and treating it as an unholy thing. In Hebrews 10:28, it speaks about condemnation under the Mosaic law being confirmed by two or three witnesses. Just as a person was condemned for a crime in that milieu, those who rejected Christ will be condemned to eternal Hell by two witnesses, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father. Just as the Father was witness to the ministry of the Lord Jesus, He will be the second witness confirming the sinful rejection of His Son by the unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment.

 

John 8:22 (KJB)

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

 

Then the Jews had taken the words of Jesus and intentionally twisted them. Jesus made no implication of any kind concerning suicide but the Pharisees would twist the words in hopes that the people would remember the false words which were spoken and not what Jesus truly spoke. They had no idea that Jesus was speaking of returning to Heaven and His Father. They could not go because they rejected Him in favor of their position and their perversion of the law which gave them a lucrative lifestyle.

 

John 8:23 (KJB)

And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

 

Here Jesus tells them plainly the reason that they can never come to an understanding of who He is. This verse not only describes the religion of the Pharisees but it describes any religion. Religion is always world based because it involves the works of man. There is no religion in this world which does not have man contributing something. Even many Christian churches and organizations teach that a person has to contribute works to their salvation plan. Have you ever heard anyone preach that “you must repent of your sins?” Repentance is a work and is not a prerequisite for salvation but is a gift after salvation. (2 Tim 2:25 KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; God gives repentance to the believer, that is, by the indwelling Holy Spirit a Christian now has the spiritual strength to say no to sin. If a person has to repent before salvation, they are doing it in their own strength which means they are working for their salvation plus they will never be able to truly repent. This is what Jesus was basically telling the Jews that they are from beneath and of the world and their belief system does not have the ability to save. This is why Jesus, who came from above and is not of this world, is able to save people because salvation comes by Him and is confirmed by the Father because it is the Father who gives the Christian to Jesus. (John 6:37 KJV) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. So salvation is a work of God the Father and God the Son but never a work of man.

 

John 8:24 (KJB)

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

 

Here Jesus plainly tells them that their law will never get them to Heaven. If they do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, then they will die in their sins. They think that because they had the law that they were all readied for Heaven but the reality is that only those who have grace in Christ are the ones readied for Heaven at the moment of salvation. They will die in their sins because their hope is in keeping the law. Basically, their hope for Heaven was their own works and works are a sure way to eternal damnation. This is the same with every religion, if they try to work, they will surely die.

 

John 8:25 (KJB)

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

 

They asked Jesus directly because they wanted a straight answer as to who He was. It was not that they wanted to really know who He was because their motives had been nefarious from the beginning of His ministry but they wanted something direct from Him so they could make an accusation against Him. (Heb 13:8 KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. He answered them by telling them that from the beginning of His ministry He had told them who He was and nothing has changed. He was the light of the world, He had living water, He forgave sins, He healed people, He was sent from the Father, His witness was true, His witness was confirmed by the Father, and other things which Jesus taught in public, right in the ears of the leaders so He did not have to give them a resume of His life because as He went along, He would teach and preach publicly and this He did from the beginning at the Jordan River with John the Baptist.

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