Continuing in John 8, Jesus has been confronting the Pharisees in their unbelief. They, the Pharisees, had just asked Jesus, “Where is your Father?” (v. 19) These guys, who had been taught in the ways of their people, in the temple and knew the scripture, were always asking something of Jesus, as to proof of He was who He said He was. And the proof was all around them in the supernatural acts of healings, casting out demons and raising the dead that Christ performed. They saw these things, yet they did not believe. Their idea of a messiah was everything that they desired in a leader. Basically a military leader that would kick the Romans out of their lives and see the Pharisees and the righteous ones that they truly believed themselves to be. Christ came to save the lost, and they were lost but unrepentant in lostness. Comfortable in how they saw themselves. Cold and unforgiving to all who were less than themselves.
Jesus answered them “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” This they refuted and it angered them just to hear it. Blasphemy is what they heard. This should also cause us the wonder what filters we employ when we hear the word of God. If you have been reading the bible, praying and repenting to God, going to a church that preaches from the full counsel of the Holy Word, those blocks or filters on your ears should have fallen away. For some, their eyes and ears are open immediately and it stuns them to see and hear so clearly. For others, the change is gradual but the day will come when you realize that you are not the same. Have faith and trust in He who created you.
Jesus was speaking to these lost men in the temple treasury and while His words were objectionable to them, no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. (v. 20) He continued teaching, with the stark message that He is going away, they would seek him, but would die in their sin. Where He is going, they cannot come. (v. 21) Which of course, they started to ask if He was going to kill Himself. (v. 22) Ears to hear, but do not. (Isaiah 6:10, Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2, Matthew 13:15, Acts 28:27, Romans 11:8)
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins.” (vv. 23-24) Hard words to hear for people who thought they were blameless. At this, they ask Him, “Who are you?” Their hearts were dead, their God and Creator was before them, and they asked “Who are you?”
And again, Christ tells them that which they would not hear: “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 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.” (vv. 25-26) The scripture helpfully tells us what is obvious to all but them: They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. (v. 27)
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. 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.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him. A couple of things here, “When you have lifted me up” From Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers: Both the Crucifixion and Ascension are implied here. Now, for the first time, they are marked out as the instruments of the Crucifixion (comp. Acts 3:15), and therefore the means by which He will return to His Father’s throne.
Then from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: 8:21-29 Those that live in unbelief, are forever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that His doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ’s grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ’s grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge Him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.
They both do an excellent job of explaining what is going on. Christ has told these Jews that He is I AM as seen so far in this book, John 4:26, John 6:35, John 8:23. They, the Jews, were too lost in their religion of works and rituals, too busy looking down their noses at all who were not born of Abraham, to believe what was plainly before their eyes. Christ tells them they will die in their sins. They are wondering what sin? Are we not sacrificing, are we not following the rituals of purification, are we not righteous in all that we do? (1 Peter 3:12)
Then we find out that as He was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” (vv. 31-33) Conveniently forgetting the golden calf, (Exodus 32-34) idol worship (2 Kings 17:41) and Babylon (Jeremiah 32:28) and kind of missing the point.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (vv. 34-38)
This obsession with belonging to the line of Abraham (v. 39) and thinking because of that, they were set up as a people and primed for entry into heaven and then being told, no, you are slaves to sin. The wages of sin is death. They are experiencing what Nicodemus did when rocked by Christ by being told that all he knew was wrong. Are you, who are content to sit in a pew and merely listen to the Word, or maybe have even decided that you are so good with God, you can forgo going to church, with the exception of maybe Christmas and Easter, are you thinking that you are going to heaven? In light of what Christ said, just before He ascended to heaven: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20) This was an action statement. He did not say “Go forth and sit quietly in a pew, only listening, and it’s OK fine to not attend church most of the time. You are good to go.”
We are told to believe and obey and repentance is the first order of business. All of which is in the Bible. Know God by reading the scripture, and find out how we are supposed to honor and give glory to Him. The bible was never meant to entertain you. That is a major issue with just about everybody these days, they have to be constantly entertained or they won’t do it. I was like that too. God said be Holy for I am Holy. (1 Peter 1:16) How you even understand what Holy is, is to pick up that book, or go online or on your phone and see what it says. It will change your life. The Truth will set you Free!
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23