Episode 58 - "Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins" - John 8:21-30

John 8:21   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.

There is much in this section that could warrant discussion. However, I am going to focus on what I believe is the key phrase in this section that explains and ties everything else together. It is the phrase, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he . . . “ (v.28) Let’s begin by starting in verse 21.

In this verse Jesus tells these Jewish antagonists four things: 1) He is going away 2) They will seek him 3) They will die in their sin and 4) They cannot come to where he will be. Ironically, the people that want to kill him think that he might kill himself and that he would be dead and they would be alive.

Jesus explains why they cannot come to where he will be. He explains that they are “from below” and he is “from above.” What does that mean? He explains it. They are from “this world.” Jesus is not from this world. Remember the opening verses of John’s gospel? He was “in the beginning” and he was involved in creating the world and everything in it. Jesus is going back to where he came from the Father. Yes, he will die, although not by suicide. But, he will rise from the dead, appear to many people, and ultimately return to the Father in heaven from where he came. This explains why they would seek him wouldn’t it? They will think that they’ve finally gotten rid of him when they crucify him. But, he will rise from the dead and they will seek him, but not to believe in him. Therefore, they “will die in their sin(s).” We know that everyone dies. What is Jesus talking about by them dying in their sins?  That is evident from verse 24 when he says, “unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So, what is evident here is that the most significant sin is refusing to believe in Jesus. The implication of dying in their sins is that they will be eternally separated from access to God. 

In the ignorance of their rebellion, Jesus gives them more detail and that’s where this “key phrase” comes in. Jesus tells them that he’s been revealing his identity “from the beginning.” (verse 25) But now he explains, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he . . .” We’ve seen how Jesus has already identified himself as the Son of Man prophesied in Daniel 7:13. Where is the Son of Man in Daniel 7? He’s in heaven with the Ancient of Days. Notice that second part after “When you have lifted up the Son of Man.” Our English translation says “then you will know that I am he.” That’s a good translation and the significance is that they would know for certain that Jesus is the Son of Man. But, the part translated “I am he” could also be translated “I am” suggesting that Jesus is claiming the divine name for himself. Personally, I believe this is one of the multiple double-entendres in the Gospel of John. I think we are intended to understand both meanings that by Jesus being lifted up, they would know that he is the Son of Man, and also God. 

Like these people challenging Jesus, we cannot simply treat Jesus as a prophet, teacher, miracle worker, and overall good guy. We must believe that he is who he has claimed to be, testified to by the works the Father has given him, and the words the Father has given him and to which the Scriptures attest. He’s not a person who has simply made a bold claim. All the evidence has testified to the veracity of his claims and if we do not believe that he is God, we will die in our sins; eternally separated from Jesus and the Father with no hope for eternal life. That is what Jesus is telling these people and it holds true for us today.

The encouraging element of this section is in verse 30 that tells us that as he was speaking, “many believed in him.”