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. (22) Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. (23) And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath, I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. (24) I said therefore unto you, That ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (25) Then said they unto him, Who art thou? and Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. (26) I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true: and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. (27) They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. (28) Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. (29) And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him (30) As he spake these words many believed on him.
If the Reader will take into account the different characters here described, he will be led to discover, (the Lord being his teacher), wherefore it was, that from the same words and the same preacher, even Christ himself; some rejected the counsel of God, against their own souls: and some, while he spake these words, believed on him. It was so in the days of Christ, and under Christ; and it hath been the same in every age, and must remain so, until the consummation of all things. And the reason is given in the Scriptures. They who are born in the Adam-state of nature by the fall, and void of all grace-union in Christ; have no apprehension of the divine life. Our Lord describes them: Ye, are from beneath, I am from above: ye are of this world, I am not of this world. And of such the Lord speaks: If we believe not that I am; ye shall die in your sins: And as the Lord had said in the former Chapter; whither I am ye cannot come. John 7:34. And on the other hand, they who were given to Christ before the world began; who are of the first born whose names are written in heaven; and by virtue thereof, have had a grace-union in Christ; and Christ hath betrothed them to himself forever, in a covenant which cannot be broken: these are secured for recovery from the Adam-nature of a fallen state; in which they were also born, but from their oneness in Christ, are in the fulness of time called out of it and regenerated, and made willing in the day of God's power. See Ephesians 1:4; Luke 10:20; Hosea 2:18-19; Psalms 110:3
By making the true scriptural distinction between these very opposite characters; a light is thrown over this whole discourse, and others of the same nature, of our Lord's. Hence the everlasting opposition made, by the Scribes and Pharisees, to all the divine preaching of Jesus. And hence the light of grace which broke out in the minds of the Lord's people, under the very same discourses of Jesus, by which, while he spake these words, it is said, that many believed on him.
I beg the Reader to notice the particularity of the expression. If ye believe not, said Jesus, that I am; (the he subjoined is not in the original, neither ought it to be considered elliptical), by which there is an evident allusion to Exodus 3:14 and there can be no question, but that our Lord meant it in the same sense. I am, that I am. So he spake to Moses, at the bush. So again he spake here. And so once more, in the close of this same Chapter, John 8:58. And I venture to believe, that our Lord meant the words not only in the eternity of his nature, as God; but also in his Mediator-character and office, as God-Man. And the change of words in this last verse, from was to am, Before Abraham was I am; most plainly and decidedly proves this most blessed and glorious truth. Reader! ponder it well. Carry it about with you wherever you are; with the credentials of your holy faith. All the blessedness, the marrow, and sweetness, of the Person, Headship, and Office-character of the Lord Jesus, are included in it.