A reading from the gospel according to John 8:21-30:
21 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.”
22 So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
23 He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.
24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning.
26 I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.”
27 They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.
29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
30 Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.
Reflection: Knowing Jesus
1. The gospel of Saint John wants the readers to know who Jesus is. He is sent by the Father on a mission to save the world through suffering and death. In other words, the identity of Jesus cannot be thoroughly understood without the cross. He says, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM.”
2. Jesus does not belong to this world. He belongs to the Father who sent Him. Therefore, His only concern is to please the one who sent Him. He is not afraid of anything because the one who sent Him is not only almighty but compassionate who will never leave Him alone.
3. Jesus claims to be the “I AM”, the name that the God of Moses revealed to be His identity. Thus, Jesus and God the Father are one (John 10:30). We will know God better only through Jesus.
4. Refusing to believe that Jesus is the “I AM” means death. He says that unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins.
5. We will search for Jesus but we will not see Him because of our sins. Unless we are made holy through the forgiveness of our sins, we cannot join Him in paradise. Therefore, let us humbly and continually ask for the forgiveness of our sins and do what pleases the Lord and then He will say, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
6. Who are you? This was the question thrown at Jesus. This is also an important question to throw at us. Who am I that Jesus would live and die for? To whom do I belong? Knowing Jesus is knowing ourselves.
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In the gospel reading above, we see a continuing effort by Jesus to reveal His identity. He is claiming in clear language that He is the I AM who is in the beginning (John 1:1), the Son of Man in reference to Daniel 7:13-14, and that He is not of this world for He comes from above. Actually He kept on revealing Himself even at the beginning of His mission but many Jews either do not really understand or they refuse to understand. So they ask, “Who are you?”.
The Jews have been waiting for the promised Messiah but when He came, they did not recognize Him or they refused to recognize Him. That is why, in verse 21, Jesus told the Pharisees that they will seek Him but they will die in their sin. This means that they will continue to wait for the Messiah but there is no other Messiah but Jesus alone. This mean they will seek and wait in vain. In the meantime, they can not go to where Jesus is going which is His Father. This is because they belong to this world whereas Jesus is from above. To belong to this world means to live in sin, that is, to live in darkness. Furthermore, to refuse to believe in Jesus means to reject His commandments and teachings which is all about repentance and turning away from sin. Indeed no one can go the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
To believe in Jesus means to live a life pleasing to God. In verse 29, Jesus said that God has not left Him alone. He Himself gave the reason. He live in such a way as to please God always by being obedient to His Will, always doing good, and giving Himself for the ransom of many (Mark 10:45).
This is the challenge that many people fails to do: to believe that Jesus is the great I Am, the Son of Man, the Messiah, the savior who came from above. By failing to believe, they condemn themselves to death in sin.
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Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about His divine identity and mission. He tells them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come” (John 8:21). These words reveal the tragic reality of rejecting Christ—without Him, people remain in their sins, separated from God. But for those who believe, He is the light that leads to life.
The Pharisees, despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles and hearing His teachings, refused to accept Him as the Son of God. Their hearts were hardened by pride and self-righteousness. Jesus warned them that if they did not believe in Him, they would die in their sins (John 8:24). These are sobering words. Without faith in Christ, sin remains, and separation from God is inevitable.
Many today still reject Jesus, choosing to rely on their own understanding or following the ways of the world. They search for meaning in temporary things—wealth, success, or relationships—only to find emptiness. Just as Jesus warned the Pharisees, He warns us today: rejecting Him leads to spiritual death. But there is hope, and it is found in Him alone.
Jesus declared, “I am He” (John 8:24), affirming His divine identity. He was not just a great teacher or prophet; He was and is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Those who recognize and believe in Him will have eternal life.
Faith in Jesus is not just about knowing who He is—it’s about surrendering to Him. It’s trusting that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Many of the Pharisees failed to see this truth because their eyes were blinded by pride. But for those who humble themselves, Jesus offers grace, forgiveness, and eternal life.
Jesus never acted on His own but always did what pleased the Father. His obedience was perfect, and His life was a testimony to God’s will. He calls us to follow His example, not to seek our own way, but to live in obedience to God.
In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices. Do we follow our own desires, or do we submit to God’s will? The world tells us to chase after our dreams, even at the cost of our faith. But Jesus teaches us to seek God first, trusting that He will provide what we truly need (Matthew 6:33). When we live in obedience to God, we experience His peace and presence.
The passage ends with a powerful statement: “Even as he spoke, many believed in him” (John 8:30). Despite the doubts and opposition of the Pharisees, there were those who heard Jesus’ words and believed. This reminds us that no matter how dark the world seems, the light of Christ still shines, drawing people to Him.
If you feel lost, uncertain, or burdened by sin, Jesus is calling you to believe in Him. He is the light of the world, and whoever follows Him “will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Do not wait until it’s too late. Choose today to trust in Jesus. He is ready to forgive, to guide, and to lead you into eternal life. Let His light shine in your heart, and you will never be the same.
