A Better Way Series

Most of us are familiar with the terms Baby boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z. All of these generations have a different way of looking at life and the world. Each has different priorities and set of values, and each thinks theirs’ is the best way to live and make sense of this world. Even if some of the values amongst the generations are the same it’s sometimes hard for them to relate to each other because of age and culture. When you hear the lingo and observe the way they live, you might think we are worlds apart.

This real-life illustration can perhaps help us to understand today’s passage in the gospel of John. In John 8, Jesus is talking to a large crowd of people including the religious Jews. Just imagine how the people reacted when the second Person of the Trinity literally came down from heaven, from a completely separate realm outside of this world, became fully human and lived among the people He created. He stepped into their world, into their staunch religious traditions and spoke about a better way, about another life, eternal life, a new way to live and a new and living way to God.

John 8:21-30

21 Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.” 25 Then they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I even been saying to you from the beginning? 26 I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.” 27 They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He said these things, many came to believe in Him.

In John 8:21-30, Jesus was talking about:

Two destinations

Two worlds

One solution

Let’s look at the first point:

Two destinations

In His conversation with the Jews Jesus said 4 things (v. 21): (1) I am going away, (2) you will look for Me (3) you will die in your sin, and (4) where I am going you cannot come

.

What did Jesus mean when He said all these things? For us today as we read the historical account, it’s obvious that after Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen that He was going to return back to His rightful place in heaven with His Father. But as the words were just coming out of His mouth in front of the people, the Jews were thinking, “maybe He’s talking about going to the Gentiles” others thought that He was referring to His death, but they didn’t believe that He would go to the extreme and kill Himself because for a Jew, suicide meant going to a place of judgment and damnation.

Jesus was speaking to them in a way they couldn’t comprehend. He was on a mission for His Father. He came to die for their sin, to be resurrected and then return to heaven because He knew that without Him, they would die in their sin and spend eternity in hell. But as we know, they were seeking for someone or something that fit their version of a savior, a warrior, a superhero, someone who would vanquish evil and set all things right in this world.

Is it any different today? Whether you are a baby boomer, generation x, a millennial, or gen Z, we are all seeking for something or someone that fits our version of truth for a solution to the world’s problems. Everyone wants to be connected in one way or another. But if you haven’t found the Truth, you are most likely on that quest to make sense of your world, to connect to some type of values to live by, to find your own way in your journey.