John 8:21-24 Then said Jesus again to them, I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come.… I. THE WITHDRAWMENT OF CHRIST FROM MEN. 1. Christ had a way — undoubtedly that through the Cross to His native heavens. What a way! It will be the study of eternity. 2. Christ pursued His way voluntarily. "I go." You cannot force Me. (1) This is no extenuation of the guilt of His murderers. "The Son of Man goeth...but woe unto the man by whom He is betrayed."(2) This is the glory of His history. Why has Christ's death the power not only to save humanity but to charm the universe? Because it was free. "I have power to lay down my life," etc. (3) A more terrible calamity cannot happen than this — far greater than the withdrawment of the sun. There is a sense in which Christ withdraws from impenitent men now. II. THE FRUITLESS SEEKING OF CHRIST BY MEN. This is a repetition of John 7:34. When I am gone, and the judgments of heaven will descend on your country, you will be seeking Me, but you will not find Me; you will have filled up the measure of your iniquity, the things that belong to your peace will be hid from your eyes. 1. The fruitless seeking is possible. The day of grace closes with some men even while they are in the world. In the judgment He will be earnestly sought, but shall not be found. "Many shall say unto Me on that day," etc., etc. 2. This fruitless seeking is lamentable. "Ye shall die in your sins." Sin is like quicksand, the man who walks on it must ultimately sink and be lost. "It sometimes happens on the coast of Britain or Scotland that a person walking on the sand will suddenly find a difficulty in walking. The shore is like pitch, to which the soles of his feet cling. The coast appears perfectly dry, but the footprints that he leaves are immediately filled with water. Nothing distinguishes the sand which is solid and that which is not. He passes on unaware of his danger. Suddenly he sinks. He wishes to turn back, but it is already too late. The slow burial of hours continues: the sand reaches to his waist, to his chest, to his neck; now only his face is visible. He cries; the sand fills his mouth, and all is silent." What a striking emblem of the danger of sin! III. THE ETERNAL SEPARATION OF CHRIST FROM MEN. "Whither I go ye cannot come." The separation will be complete and irreversible. "Ye cannot come." Christ had said this before (John 7:34), and He refers to it again (John 13:33). So that to Him the words had a terrible meaning. More terrible words than these could not be sounded in human ears, "Ye cannot come." It means incorrigible depravity, hopeless misery. Separation from Christ is hell. The commission of every sin contributes to the construction of the impassable gulf. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. |
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