Believe that I am He - John 8:21-30

This week, we’re looking at the rest of Jesus’ conversation with the Jews after making his second “I am” statement. Last week, we looked at where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” which sparked quite the discussion and debate among the Jews. We looked at part of it last week, and this week, we’re looking at the rest of their discussion, argument, debate, whatever you want to call in verses 21-30.

And throughout the book of John, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms, who he is. He tells people over and over again, and yet, they keep asking him, “who are you?”

And that’s what we see in verses 21-30. But this time, Jesus tells them exactly who they are and contrasts it with who he is. Who would have thought there was a difference between you and Jesus, right? First, Jesus tells the Jews that they will die in their sin (v. 21), which is a symptom of their disease (vv. 22-24), and that the only remedy is to believe in Him (vv. 25-30). You might say, what we see in this passage is the symptom, the disease, and then the cure.

The Symptom (v. 21)

I’m certainly not a doctor, but I’ve had the great privilege of getting sick on more than one occasion. And whenever you’re first getting sick you’re trying to diagnose it. Wasn’t that the struggle with covid? Every symptom could be covid? If you have a slight runny nose, you probably have covid?

Jesus reveals at the beginning of verse 21 a symptom as well.

Verse 21 is quite striking. He says, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

It echoes what he said previously in chapter 7: Jesus said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.”

Sounds very familiar right?

In both places, Jesus is referring to his death, when he says he’s going to “go away.” And interestingly enough, the Jews understand him to be speaking of death, which is why they think he’s speaking about committing suicide.

But obviously, Jesus isn’t speaking of committing suicide, he’s speaking about his sacrificial death on the cross that atoned for sins of the world. He then ascended to the right hand of the Father.

So what does it mean that you will die in your sin?

But what I think is of particular interest is the fact that Jesus says, “you will seek me, and you will die in your sin.” The obvious implication being, they will not find him. And again, the Jews pick up on this part as well. They understand Jesus is saying this.

But they miss the big picture of what he’s saying: he’s referring to the Messiah, God’s Son, the Savior of the World and what Jesus is telling them is that they will seek the Messiah, not find him, and ultimately die in their sin.

Which is why it’s important to notice what Jesus doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “you’ve committed too many sins and now you’re too far gone, there’s no hope for you.” He doesn’t say, “whew, that’s so many sins not even God can overcome it. They’re all too far gone!” Rather, Jesus simply says “you will die in your sin.” Singular sin. One sin.

What is this great sin that they’ve committed? They’ve rejected the true Messiah, the Savior of the Word, the very Son of God - Jesus Christ.

That’s the sin that leads to eternal death. That’s the sin that sends someone to hell. Rejection of the work and person of Jesus Christ leads to eternal destruction.

Isn’t that so wildly different from what we often assume?

It’s so easy to believe that our lives are the sum of our actions. We think there’s a sin threshold. God is keeping a record of your sins and if that list gets too long - you’re irredeemable. You’re beyond saving, you’re too far gone and it’s over for you.

Because it’s not the combination of all your sins together that sends you to hell, it’s the rejection, disregard, or dismissal of Jesus Christ that sends you to hell.

There will be a day when the normal cop out answers of our day won’t cut it. Saying “I’m not religious” isn’t going to cut it on judgment day, because indifference towards Jesus Christ is a rejection of him too.

But rejection of Jesus Christ is a symptom of a greater disease. It’s the runny nose that tells everyone you have covid.

The Disease (vv. 22-24)

Obviously, I’m kidding but there is a level of truth to the fact that there is something bigger at play. In many ways you have to understand who you are.

People are so interested in self-discovery. There’s a book called “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” by Cal Newport and in the book he tells a story about a young man that worked in a cubicle, hating his life, longing for something more meaningful and transcendent. He wanted to live a life of purpose and so he set out to become a Buddhist monk. His logic was, if he wanted to find meaning and self-discovery then what better way to do it than to move to Nepal (or somewhere like that) to figure out who he really was.

He realized that life in a Buddhist monastery was anything but meaningful. He was doing a bunch of odd jobs, trying to decipher koans, which are pointless riddles that try to get you to empty yourself of all thought. His attempt at Buddhism left him utterly disappointed.

The truth is, we don’t really need to go on a journey of self-discovery because Jesus tells us exactly who we are. We’re sinners. And the rejection of Jesus Christ is a symptom of our sin nature. Jesus said, that no one seeks after God. This is our disease and Jesus gets at this in our passage.

You may have noticed that in this passage Jesus uses contrasting statements to distinguish who we are from who he is. This is actually something that D.A. Carson notes in his commentary on John: Jesus is from above, the Jews and Pharisees are from below, they are from this world, Jesus is not from this world; where he goes, they cannot come, God is Jesus’ Father, and later in chapter 8 Jesus tells the Jews and Pharisees’ that the devil their father.

Jesus makes two comparisons in verse 23, ““You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”

Now, when Jesus says that they are “from below,” he’s not telling them that they’re from the underworld or hell or something like that.

As one commentator put it, “‘Below” and “of this world” is a reference to the fallen moral order in conscious rebellion against its creator. The contrast is not between a spiritual world and a material world…, but between the realm of God himself and the realm of his fallen and rebellious creation… (Carson, 342)”

And this is often most clearly seen in the Greek word for ‘world’ which is ‘kosmos.’ The Apostle John will refer to the ‘world’ as a system or worldview opposed to God.

Jesus is drawing a distinction between sin, falleness, and depravity, with glory, righteousness, and holiness. They are from below, but he is from above. They are from the world, he is not of this world.

And it really goes without saying which words describe who, right? Humanity is sinful, fallen and depraved. The Lord is glorious, righteous, and holy.

So there’s a great divide between humanity and the Lord. There’s an impassable bridge between us and God. Because as Jesus is pointing out, humanity is naturally opposed to Him.

Do you want to know who you fundamentally are as a person? You’re a sinner. That’s fundamentally who you are. Ever since the fall of mankind into sin because of Adam and Eve sin has been ingrained in us. It’s hardwired into our DNA.

Being a sinner isn’t simply something that you do - it’s who you are. To be a sinner is to be human.

And notice now the “sin” of verse 21 has become “sins” in verse 24. Look at verse 24 with me: “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Because that’s the way the sin of unbelief works, doesn’t it? It’s cancerous and grows and metastasizes into something bigger and uglier. The sin of rejecting Christ is the foundation for a life of unbelief. It all starts there, doesn’t it?

We’ve all seen it. We can all attest to it. We often pray for people’s conversion because we recognize that it’s the only hope for a life that’s self-destructing. Self-destruction doesn’t necessarily mean someone is passed out on the side of the road with a needle in their arm. Often it’s much more subtle than that. It’s a frame of mind. It’s the grid by which you interpret the world.

But it always starts so small doesn’t it?

At times, I’ve had conversations with parents who want me to talk to their child who’s made some poor decisions. Maybe they're living with a girlfriend or boyfriend or something like that and they’re just disappointed with the decisions they’re making.

I always want to help, but what can I do? Break into their house and start moving them out? In all seriousness, I’m always willing to speak with them and try to share the gospel with them, but beyond that there’s not much one can do.

And these sorts of situations are always tough for me, because it seems like we’re more obsessed with treating the symptoms rather than the disease.

Those situations are the equivalent to prescribing cough syrup to treat lung cancer. It’s kinda pointless, because there’s something much bigger going on here!

Living with a girlfriend or boyfriend indicates that there’s something wrong with your beliefs.

Poor choices are often not just poor choices in and of themselves, often, they’re a reflection of what someone has put their hope in. A fundamental shift in their worldview is required and that only comes through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

Because what hope do any of us have outside of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Isn’t that exactly what we all need? We all need Jesus!

And no one understood that better than… well Jesus!

The Cure (vv. 25-30)

In verses 25-30, Jesus responds to the Jews question: who are you? It’s not a question that’s asked in good faith. Because Jesus has already and is currently answering the question.

Which is why he answers their question, “who are you?” with, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.” He’s been telling them who he is. That’s the very thing he’s been addressing the whole time, they just haven’t and aren’t willing to receive his message.

Which is why Jesus has so much to judge them for. It’s not just what they have done that he judges them for, but for what they think and believe concerning him. Their lack of faith, their hearts. “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.”

Jesus has much to judge them for because of their denial of the truth of God. Jesus is simply proclaiming the message from God! He’s bringing the glorious news of the gospel to a sin-sick world. And the Jews had no idea that Jesus was speaking about his relationship with God the Father.

But everything in this passage really hinges on what he says in verse 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.”

Jesus refers to himself as that great Messianic figure from Daniel 7, the Son of Man. When Jesus told them he would be “lifted up” it suggests a glorious event, but it’s best understood as a reference to the cross.

And the great irony of it is that both are actually true: the cross is the glorious crescendo of redemption. Human history coalesces around the cross.

But the thing I really want to draw your attention to is those three little words, “I am he.” Jesus is using those rich Greek words, “ego eimi - I am.”

He says it twice in our passage.

Once in verse 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.”

And then he said it again in verse 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.”

And whenever you see those words it’s very tempting to immediately jump to Exodus 3:14 where the Lord reveals his covenant name to Moses - “I am who I am or I am that I am.”

But I don’t think that’s the reference Jesus wants to call our attention to because Jesus actually says, “that I am he” both times.

Jesus seems to be echoing the words of the prophet Isaiah’s servant songs. Here are a few examples from Isaiah 41, 43, and 48.

Isaiah 41:4: “Who has performed and done this? Calling the generation from the beginning, I the Lord the first and with the last, I am He.

Isaiah 43:10: “You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He.”

Isaiah 48:12: “Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, whom I called, I am He. I am the first and I am the last.”

In Isaiah’s prophetic Servant Songs the Lord promises a servant that will deliver his people. It’s a reference to the saving arm of the Lord.

Normally when Jesus says “I am” it’s a reference to his divine nature. The fact that he is indeed God. But Jesus appears to be saying something to the Jews here that is a little more pointed.

He’s saying that he’s the promised deliverer. He’s the Messiah, the Savior of the World. So Jesus is emphasizing his Messianic role to the Jews that are listening to him.

But notice what he stresses in verse 28: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he…”

once you’ve crucified me, and died in unbelief, when it’s too late to turn back, you’ll realize that I am the Messiah, Savior of the world.

One commentator put it this way: “What Jesus means is that having refused to accept him by faith and having nailed him to the cross (which, in turn, led to the crown), they would one day awaken to the terrifying realization that this One whom they despised was, nevertheless, whatever he claimed to be. Too late this truth would crash in upon them, in the hour of death and at the final judgment.” (Hendriksen, 48)

In other words, Jesus is saying when you die in your unbelief you will realize the mistake you made. And at that point, it’ll be too late. There will be no turning back.

And what Jesus is doing and saying is all coming directly from the Lord himself.

And John reports at the end of our passage that “many believed in him.” What he’s describing there is a weak superficial belief. They were just caught up in the moment. They just enjoyed the excitement. And we’ll see this even clearer when we look at verse 31 and so on next week.

But the key takeaway that Jesus is driving home to the Jews is that they’ll realize that he is the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Son of God only after it’s too late. They’ll already be condemned. Jesus Christ will have passed them by.

A friend of mine from VMI, his grandfather was Richard Petty. Yes, that Richard Petty - the King of NASCAR. He didn’t make a big deal of the fact that his grandfather was Richard Petty. He was very low key about it.

The whole getup, in case you’re wondering, it’s not an act. It’s totally authentic. I only know that because I saw him walking around the campus of VMI looking like he had stepped out of a Goody’s headache powder commercial. He had on his iconic cowboy hat, big belt buckle, and sunglasses - the whole bit.

I was at a crossroads of life. Do I interrupt Richard Petty and bug him for a picture or leave him alone because he was there to see his grandson? So I wrestled with what to do for a second, and ultimately decided I don’t want to bother him because he’s here to see his grandson. So I didn’t get a picture with Richard Petty.

Then all my friends got their picture taken with Richard Petty. I was filled with instant regret. Why didn’t I take a picture with the King? You definitely don’t dress like that to fly under the radar screen.

I wish I wouldn’t have walked by him.

I think there’s a similar message here for all of us this morning: If you recognize Jesus Christ don’t let him walk right by you.

Don’t wait till it’s too late to say to yourself, “I should have taken Jesus Christ seriously.”

Receive the message of this passage and do it now. For some of you that might mean truly repenting and trusting in Jesus Christ.

For others it might mean you need to turn from the superficial Christianity you’ve professed your whole life and start taking it seriously. Don’t make it your mission in life to slip through the pearly gates when no one is watching.

Don’t be a bare minimum Christian! Don’t be the person that everyone is surprised to find that you profess to be a Christian!

Take the words of Christ to heart. “...for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” Don’t let Christ pass you by. Don’t wait till it’s too late.

Embrace Christ and let the gospel permeate every aspect of your life.

Let’s pray.