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More John commentaries
John 5:1-15
Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
John 5:16-23
Jesus Claims to be God
John 5:24-29
Four Types of Resurrections
John 5:30-38
Jesus’ Witnesses of his Diety
John 5:39-47
Blindness to the Truth of the Scriptures
John 6:1-15
Philip Fails the Exam
John 6:16-29
Jesus Calms Their Fears
John 6:30-44
What’s Your Motive for Following Jesus
John 6:56-71
Confussion of the Body and Blood of Christ
John 7:1-14
The Advice of Jesus’ Brothers
John 7:25-36
Blinded to the Truth
John 7:37-53
Divided Opinions About Jesus
John 8:1-7
Pharisees Condemn the Adulterous Woman
John 8:8-11
Jesus Forgives the Adulterous Women
John 8:12-20
Jesus is the Light of the World
John 8:21-30
Jesus Predicts His Death
John 8:48-59
Jesus’ Claims To His Identity
John 9:1-12
Contentment in Any Circumstance
John 9:13-23
Trouble with the Jewish Leaders
John 9:24-41
The Testimony of the Healed Man
John 10:11-21
The Good Shephard Knows His Sheep
John 10:22-42
Rejected by the Religious Leaders
John 11:1-16
News of Lazarus’ Death
John 11:17-30
Jesus Arrives at Mary and Martha’s House
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Jesus Predicts His Death
John 8:21–30
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
My brother detonates explosives for the police department’s bomb squad. He came to my house one day sporting a distinctive T-shirt. The front read, “Hazardous Device Technician.” When he turned around, I read the back: “If you see me running, try to keep up!” … More
Jesus had already mentioned that He would be leaving them (7:34) but the Jews had misunderstood what He had said. Once again He warned these Jews that He would leave them and they would not be able to follow Him, and they would die in their sins (v. 21). They did not understand His teaching and thought He was planning to kill Himself (v. 22). Suicide was a terrible thing to a Jew as he was taught to honor all life. Therefore, they reasoned that if Jesus committed suicide, He would go to a place of judgment and this was the reason they would not be able to follow Him. Actually, just the opposite was true. It was these religious leaders who were going to the place of judgment (vv. 23-24).
It seems almost unthinkable that these religious “experts” would ask, “Who are you?” (v. 25). He had given them so much evidence already that He was truly the Son of God, yet they had deliberately rejected the evidence. It seems that Jesus was saying in His reply, “I am exactly who I have said I am (vv. 26-27). Why should I teach you new things, or give you more proof, when you have not accepted the witness I have already given.” It is sad to know that many are so taken up with the things of this world that they are blind to all that Christ has to offer.
Jesus made two more tremendous claims: not only was He sent by the Father, but the Father was with Him. He also speaks about His own death, and that He will be “lifted up” on the cross (vv. 28-29). Only through His death, burial and resurrection would they be able to see Him for who He really was. In spite of widespread rejection, the ministry of Jesus did cause many to put their faith in Him (v. 30).
Application
Salvation is a matter of life or death. People who reject the Savior must die in their sins. I need to ask - what is my attitude toward those who I know are living in their sins? Many don’t seem to care. Do I care? A bigger question is, what am I doing about it?
John 8:21-30 (English Standard Version)
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." So the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" 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." So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "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." They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 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.
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