He Will Never See Death

Lesson #150

With this lesson we will continue with the conversation Jesus was having with the Pharisees. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51 ESV). The Jews have accused Jesus of being birthed from fornication and now having a demon. Jesus simply tells them they are wrong and then adds more about what he can offer one who believes in him. Jesus establishes himself as a standard or a marker for division of all mankind. Those who hear and obey what he is teaching will experience spiritual birth and will never experience eternal death.

Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again if he is to see the kingdom of God (John3:3). He told the woman of Samaria that he was the source of living water that she needed (John 4:14). In John 5:25, Jesus said, “An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live” (ESV). In John 6:35, Jesus claims to be the bread of life. In John 8:12, Jesus spoke to the people, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (NASB). In John 8:31, 32, 34, Jesus claims power over sin by stating that he can set one free from their sin if they abide in his word. It is, therefore, no surprise when Jesus states, here in verse 51, that anyone who keeps his word will never see spiritual death.

As expected, the unbelieving Jews responded harshly, saying to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death’” (John 8:52 ESV). Without understanding the concept of being born again, what Jesus is saying is contrary to their experience. Physically, they know that everyone dies and so what Jesus is saying makes no sense to them, just like it made no sense to Nicodemus in John 3:4. They then supported their stand by pointing out that great spiritual figures of the past, like Abraham and the prophets died, so then, how can one continue to live by simply keeping your word?

The Jews continue by asking two questions: “Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” (John 8:53 ESV). In their minds, Jesus would have to be greater than Abraham and the prophets, who died, in order to do what he claims and they are convinced beyond any doubt that it is not so. It is no different today. As I share Jesus with people I meet, I find their response very similar to the Jews. I am convinced, from my study of the Scriptures, that for a person to understand what Jesus is saying, their name would have to have been recorded, before the foundation of the world, in the Lambs Book of Life (Revelation 13:8 ESV). Those are the ones the Father is going to adopt as his children and to them he gives spiritual understanding leading up to their spiritual birth. Without being adopted a person will continue to act like these Jews and continue on to eternal destruction, which justice would demand of all of us if it had not been for his mercy, grace and sovereignty.  

Prayer

Father, in this lesson Jesus gives a condition that should be seen as evidence that one has eternal life. I can claim to have eternal life, but if I am not living out the Word of God is it not like what James says, “Faith without works is dead.” I pray that my behavior shows evidence of eternal life and that it in fact draws others to investigate the claims of Jesus.