“Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” John 8:22
They didn’t get it. Jesus said this about the situation.
They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father (v. 27).
So what did he say? What was he saying about the Father? Let’s list it out here.
First, Jesus made a very bold statement. He said he was the Light of the Lord and whoever followed him would not walk in darkness but have the light of life.
This angered the Pharisees. They rejected his words because they said Jesus was his own testimony. Therefore his witness was not valid. They said this because of what is written in the Torah:
One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deut 19:15).
It did not just refer. to crimes, but there had to be multiple witnesses in important matters. Jesus replied that his testimony was valid.
First, Jesus said his own testimony is valid because he knows who He is. We can imply from that that he means He is from God, of God, and God in flesh. Sinless and perfect. He points out that they did not know Him.
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going (v. 14).
Second, Jesus says He does not pass judgment on anyone. He isn’t passing judgment here. He is just saying He is the Light of the World.
But if he were to pass judgment, he would be right in that judgment, because He was not alone. His Father was the second witness.
But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me” (v. 16-18).
At this they asked him where his Father was. I’m sure they were likely thinking of Joseph, his earthly Father. But Jesus was not meaning his earthly father. So his next phrase likely confused him at first, but they were catching on that he was claiming to be God.
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also” (v. 19)
The Scriptures say something interesting at this point. They tell us that he was teaching these things in the temple at the location where offerings were received. As in, there were likely a lot of temple guards around because of teh money. But they didn’t arrest Jesus.
Jesus spoke again.
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come” (v. 21).
They fixated on the words that he was going away and they wouldn’t be able to find him. They did not reflect on his words that they would die in their sin, a much more serious issue.
At this point they thought he was going to end himself. It was the only solution they could think of where he could go that they couldn’t find him.
Seeing they missed the point, Jesus had to spell it out a little more plainly.
But he continued, “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; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (v. 23-24).
He is saying two things.
1) I am from God
2) You will die in your sins. Belief in me will be the only thing that will save you. And you do not believe.
They ask again who He is. Was Jesus a little exasperated when he said the following?
“Who are you?” they asked“
Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied (v. 25).
Then Jesus says again His identity. He is the Son of Man sent by the Father. He says what His Father tells Him to say and does what His Father tells him to do.
- what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
- you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me
- The one who sent me is with me
Then Jesus ends with a beautiful word:
he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him (v. 29).
The Father never leaves him alone. He always does what pleases the Father. It is a beautiful, interdependent, reciprocal relationship.
In essence, Jesus is saying He is the Son of Man. This is the testimony of both the Father and the Son.
He and His Father work together. The Father is God. And He is God where belief in Him is the path of deliverance from sin and death. The Pharisees did not believe him. But there was hope. Many others did (v. 30).
John 8:12-30
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”
22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”
23 But he continued, “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; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they asked.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “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 but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.