There is much to unpack in John 8:21-24. We will take these verses at face value and attempt to tease out the greater meaning and application to ourselves.
The great I AM appears in verse 24. “I am He,” Jesus says. By this, He refers to the Messiah. God reveals Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 in a similar way, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’’” God’s name is YHWH, literally translated as LORD, which is derived from the Hebrew word for “to be”, otherwise understood as “to exist”. From this Hebrew language, we have Yahweh, Lord, and Jehovah. Beginning in Exodus 6:7, the phrase “you shall know that I am the Lord” appears 9 times through Exodus 31:13. Both the Egyptians and the people of Israel would know that “I am the Lord” by the miracles and power demonstrated.
It is from this that Christ draws in referring to Himself as “I am He”. Christ is also referring to the many Messianic prophecies given in the Old Testament. In essence, Christ is saying that He is the One longed and hoped for.
Before the “I AM”, sin hides itself. Think back to Genesis 3:8-10. Immediately after engaging in sin, Adam and Eve hid themselves in the Garden of Eden. They knew God’s presence would soon be coming, and their sin caused them to want to hide and separate themselves. By this, we understand that sin separates us from God.
Christ makes two eternally true statements in verses 21 and 24 – “you shall die in your sins” and “where I am going you cannot come.” Both statements are sobering thoughts. Christ is making reference to the refusal of the Jews at that time to repent. They will die in their impenitence. Christ is speaking to people whom He will not see in heaven. This truth applies to all who remain impenitent even until death.
The words of William Barclay are very poignant here. “To every man is given the opportunity to accept Christ as Saviour and Lord; but that opportunity can be refused and lost. Implicit in this argument is the truth that life and time are limited. It is within an allotted span that we must make our decision for Christ. The time we have to make that decision is limited – and none of us knows what his limit is. There is therefore every reason for making it now. Just because there is opportunity in life there is also judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27: “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.”
Christ pleaded with them multiple times and exposed their sin. The gospel of John speaks to us today in the same way. Christ still pleads with us.
Christ is referring to the eternal separation from God caused by sin and impenitence when He says “where I am going you cannot come.” They will be eternally separated from God. The same sad fate awaits everyone who, having the opportunity to believe, ultimately dies in their impenitence and sin. They will ultimately seek to hide themselves from God, and their separation from God will be made final.
The remedy, the hope, and the salvation are all wrapped up in one line, found in verse 24, “Unless you believe that I am He.” It is through belief on Christ that we find our salvation, reconciliation to God, and eternal life with Him. John 3:16
Beyond our belief on Christ, He calls us to be His disciples. In John 8:31-32, we read, “Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” Christ is speaking to believers here, and He continues to speak to those who believe on Christ today.
Once having believed on Christ, we must abide in Him and in His Word. Only by abiding in Christ and His Word can we truly be His disciples. The word “abide” probably brings to mind another word “abode.” Abiding means that this is our permanent home, our starting point everyday when we go out into the world, and our place of return for refuge and rest at the end of the day. This word signifies not departing, not leaving, and continuing to be present. To abide includes the Holy Spirit putting a constant influence upon the person, and Christ being continually operative in the person.
Christ always exerts His power in the person who abides in Him, and the person cleaves and holds fast to Christ and the Holy Spirit. We must not forget here the greatest commandment in the law, of which Christ reminded us in Matthew 22:37, “And He said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’”
Every fiber of our being, from our strength to our knowledge to our motives to our soul must cooperate together to love the Lord our God. This is abiding in Christ. We should also be reminded of Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We must put Christ first in everything.
This and only this is the pathway to discipleship. Abiding in Christ is the condition upon which our discipleship hangs.
Of course, we do not abide in Christ on our own power. We abide through the aid of the Holy Spirit. If it were on our own power, it would all be self-righteousness and salvation by works. Because we are very dependent on the Holy Spirit, we must provide Him with a clean temple and a clean channel through which He sends His aid and strength to us. Our hearts cannot be riddled with sin and impurity.
Lastly, John 8:37-38 are worth mentioning at this point. Christ makes of no effect their being Abraham’s offspring. God shows no partiality, especially to ethnicity, people groups, family heritage, or family lineage. Many who heard Christ teach were banking on their membership in the family of Abraham for their salvation. Christ reduces to nothing the fact that some were of Abraham’s offspring who heard Christ’s teachings, His rebukes and warnings, and His promise of eternal life.
It is the same today. Being of a particular ethnicity, family heritage, etc. offers no standing before God.
In John 8:40, Christ reminds His hearers that Abraham did not do what they sought to do. And in verse 39, Christ exhorts them to “do the deeds of Abraham.” What did Abraham do? He believed, walked in righteousness, and sought to be blameless before God. If they were truly of Abraham’s offspring, they would believe on Christ. Abraham believed God, and his belief (faith) was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham also foretold the coming Messiah.
If we expect any credit from God, it must be found only in belief on Christ. Anyone who does not believe will, as Christ said, die in their sins and not go where Christ is.
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