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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_8:21-30
21Then He said again to them, "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come." 22So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" 23And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." 25So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world." 27They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." 30As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
Joh_8:21-22 "where I am going, you can not come. . .Surely He will not kill Himself, will He" The question of Joh_8:22 expects a "no" answer. It is obvious from the context that although they misunderstood His statement (cf. Joh_7:34-36), they related it to His death. From Josephus we learn that suicide condemned one to the lowest parts of Hades. Their question apparently indicates that this is where they thought Jesus should be.
Joh_8:21 "and will die in your sin" This is literally "In the sin of you, you will die." The term "sin" is singular in Joh_8:21 and plural in Joh_8:24. This refers primarily to their rejection of Jesus as the Christ (cf. Joh_8:24). This is really the unpardonable sin of the Synoptic Gospels. Their leaders are rejecting Jesus in the presence of the great light from His words and signs.
See the following notes from my commentary on Mark.
Mar_3:29 "whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit" This must be understood in its pre-Pentecostal historical setting. It was used in the sense of God's truth being rejected. The teaching of this verse has commonly been called "the unpardonable sin." It must be interpreted in light of the following criteria:
1.the distinction in the OT between "intentional" and "unintentional sins," (cf. Num_15:27-31)
2.the unbelief of Jesus' own family contrasted with the unbelief of the Pharisees in this context
3.the statements of forgiveness in Mar_3:28
4.the differences between the Gospel parallels, particularly the change of "son of man," (cf. Mat_12:32; Luk_12:10) to "sons of men," (cf. Mat_12:31; Mar_3:28).
In light of the above, this sin is committed by those who, in the presence of great light and understanding, still reject Jesus as God's means of revelation and salvation. They turn the light of the gospel into the darkness of Satan (cf. Mar_3:30). They reject the Spirit's drawing and conviction (cf. Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65). The unpardonable sin is not a rejection by God because of some single act or word, but the continual, ongoing rejection of God in Christ by willful unbelief (i.e., the scribes and Pharisees).
This sin can only be committed by those who have been exposed to the gospel. Those who have heard the message about Jesus clearly are the most responsible for its rejection. This is especially true of modern cultures that have continual access to the gospel, but reject Jesus (i.e., America, western culture).
Joh_8:23 "You are from below, I am from above" This is another example of John's vertical dualism (i.e., below vs. above, cf. Joh_7:35-36; Joh_18:36).
John's contrast between Jesus who is from above and the Jews who are from below, forms a dualism that is unique among the Gospels. The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) contrast the two Jewish ages, the evil present age and the future age of righteousness. This difference is described by the terms horizontal dualism vs. vertical dualism. Did Jesus teach both in different settings? Possibly the Synoptics recorded Jesus' public teachings while John recorded Jesus' private teachings to the disciples.
▣ "you are of this world" The world lies in the power of the Evil One (cf. 2Co_4:4; Eph_2:2; and 1Jn_5:19). For world (kosmos) see Special Topic at Joh_14:17.
Joh_8:24 "unless" This is a third class conditional sentence which means potential action.
NASB, NKJV "you believe that I am He"
NRSV, JB"believe that I am he"
TEV "believe that 'I Am Who I Am'"
NJB "believe that I am He"
This is one of the strongest statements of Jesus' self-understanding of His own divine nature (or it is possible that in this context "the Messiah" is the referent). He uses the OT title for YHWH (cf. "I am" of Exo_3:14). This is distinct from the famous "I am" statements in John. This has no predicate (cf. Joh_4:26; Joh_6:20; Joh_8:24-25; Joh_8:58; Joh_13:19; Joh_18:5-6; Joh_18:8). See Special Topic: John's Use of "Believe" at Joh_2:23.
Joh_8:25 "Who are You" The Jewish authorities are looking for legal grounds for a charge of blasphemy (cf. Mat_26:57-68; Mar_14:53-65)! They want Him killed. They are not looking for information but for condemnation.
Jesus clearly reveals Himself in John (unlike the Synoptics)! His words (i.e., Joh_8:24) and His acts (i.e., healing on the Sabbath) clearly show His authority.
NASB "What have I been saying to you from the beginning"
NKJV "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning"
NRSV "Why do I speak to you at all"
TEV "What I have told you from the very beginning"
NJB "What I have told you from the outset"
Originally the Greek manuscript had no spaces between the words. Therefore, the Greek letters can be divided in different places to make words that fit the context. The divergence of translations is not related to a manuscript variation, but word division. Here are the options.
1. hote - I have said to you from the beginning (NASB, NKJV, TEV, NJB, NIV)
2. ho ti as a Semitic idiom of exclamation - that I talk to you at all (NRSV, TEV footnote)
It is probably one of John's word plays that the term "beginning" is used in the Septuagint's translation of Gen_1:1 (creation) and in Joh_1:1 (His ministry). Jesus is from the "beginning" and has been telling them this all along by words and deeds!
Joh_8:26-27 These themes are repeated in John for emphasis.
1. the Father sent Me (cf. Joh_3:17; Joh_3:34; Joh_4:34; Joh_5:36; Joh_5:38; Joh_6:29; Joh_6:44; Joh_6:57; Joh_7:28-29; Joh_8:16; Joh_8:26; Joh_8:42; Joh_10:36; Joh_11:42; Joh_12:49; Joh_14:24; Joh_15:21; Joh_17:3; Joh_17:18; Joh_17:21; Joh_17:23; Joh_17:25; Joh_20:21)
2. the Father is true (cf. Joh_3:33; Joh_7:28)
3. Jesus' teachings are from the Father (cf. Joh_3:11; Joh_7:16-17; Joh_8:26; Joh_8:28; Joh_8:40; Joh_12:49; Joh_14:24; Joh_15:15)
4. Jesus reveals the Father (cf. Joh_1:18; Joh_8:26-29; Joh_12:49-50; Joh_14:7; Joh_14:9)
▣ "the world" See note at Joh_1:10.
Joh_8:27 Another editorial comment by the author. If they had understood His clear metaphorical and symbolic language, they, like other Jews, would have tried to kill Him (cf. Joh_5:18; Joh_8:59; Joh_10:33). His claims were not that hidden!
Joh_8:28 "When you lift up the Son of Man" This is an OT allusion to Num_21:4-9, which is discussed in Joh_3:14. This term, as so many terms in John, had a double meaning. It can mean "lifted up" as on the cross (cf. Joh_3:14; Joh_12:32; Joh_12:34), but it is often used in a sense of "exalted," as in Act_2:33; Act_5:31; Php_2:9. Jesus knew He came to die (cf. Mar_10:45).
▣ "the Son of Man" This is Jesus' self-chosen title because it had no militaristic or nationalistic implications within rabbinical
Judaism. Jesus chose this title because it connects both the concepts of humanity (cf. Eze_2:1; Psa_8:4) and deity (cf. Dan_7:13).
▣ "then you will know that I am He" Even the disciples (and His family) did not fully understand until (cf. Joh_7:39) after Pentecost! The Spirit came with eye-opening power to all who had spiritual eyes and ears!
For the unique grammatical affirmation "I am He" see the note at Joh_8:24. They will know
1. who He is (i.e., Messiah)
2. that He reveals the Father (cf. Joh_5:19-20)
3. that He and the Father are one (Joh_8:29)
Joh_8:29 "He has not left Me alone" Jesus' fellowship with the Father sustained Him (cf. Joh_8:16; Joh_16:32). This is why the broken fellowship on the cross was so difficult for Him (cf. Mar_15:34).
Joh_8:30 "many came to believe in Him" There is great latitude in the use of the term "believe" in this passage. It seems to refer to shallow faith on the part of some hearers (cf. Matthew 13; Mark 4). They were willing to concede that He was the Messiah based on their understanding of what that meant. The context of Joh_8:30-58 clearly shows that they were not true believers (cf. Joh_2:23-25). In John there are several levels to belief, not all lead to salvation. See Special Topic at Joh_2:23.