What if everything you believed about life and God was being challenged? When has clarity felt more like confrontation in your life?

In John 8:20-30, we step into a pivotal moment with Jesus. He speaks in the Temple courts, teaching people who are both curious and suspicious. Verse 20 says, "These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple, and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come." The treasury was where offerings were made, and being there connects His teaching to worship and faithfulness, while also placing Him in a space closely observed by leaders who felt threatened.

The Jewish leaders held power through legalism, pride, and tradition. Their authority was long-established, both religiously and politically. In that context, Jesus’ words were more than lessons, they were revolutionary. He questioned the framework that defined how people understood God, righteousness, and authority.

Courage and Conversation

Jesus speaks with clarity that confronts assumptions. When He says, "You do not know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you would have known my Father also" (John 8:19), He reveals a truth that shakes the core of religious thinking. In that culture, knowing God was often measured by ritual and heritage. Jesus, however, teaches that real knowledge of God comes through a personal relationship with Him.

Tradition often prioritizes rules over transformation.
Religious leaders relied on their positions to maintain influence.
Jesus introduces a spiritual paradigm rooted in truth, freedom, and relationship.

Verse 21 continues, "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." His words are stark, reminding us that spiritual separation is the real danger, not just physical death. Today, His challenge remains: are we living to please cultural expectations, or are we following divine truth?

Freedom in the Father

Jesus teaches about belief and obedience in verses 22-24. The leaders misunderstand, asking, "Will he kill himself, because he says, Whither I go, ye cannot come?" Jesus clarifies that spiritual blindness keeps people from seeing the eternal path. Verse 24 says, "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." Faith is the key to spiritual life and liberation.

Belief in Jesus connects us to the Father.
Ignoring Him perpetuates spiritual death.
Recognizing cultural pressures helps us see where we mimic the skepticism of the religious leaders.

Testimony, Trust and Transformation

In verses 25-30, the people ask, "Who art thou?" Jesus points to His Father and His works. Verse 28 declares, "Then said Jesus, 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." The lifting up, foreshadowing the cross, turns what was meant for shame into triumph.

In Roman-occupied Judea, being "lifted up" symbolized death and humiliation.
Jesus transforms it into victory, showing that what seems weak or painful can bring redemption.
Verse 30 concludes, "As he spoke these words, many believed on him." Faith arises not from pressure, but from clarity, teaching, and the Spirit’s work.

John 8:20-30 asks us to examine how we perceive authority, truth, and faith. In a world focused on performance, approval, and appearances, Jesus calls us to real relationship with God.

Are we measuring life by cultural norms or spiritual truth?
Do we seek God through rituals, heritage, or relationship?
Are we willing to follow Jesus even when it feels uncertain or countercultural?
What would change if we believed Him fully, even when it challenges our comfort?

The tension Jesus faced between truth and tradition mirrors pressures we face today. Belief in Him brings freedom that transcends expectation and social conformity. Just as many believed then, we are invited to see, trust, and follow the Son of Man lifted up for our redemption.

Trusting Through Trials

Sometimes following Jesus feels like walking through a fog. You read His promises, you pray, and yet it seems impossible to trace Him in your daily life. In those moments, remember that even when sight fails, faith still moves. John 8:20-30 reminds us that Jesus’ timing is perfect, even when it feels delayed. Verse 20 says, "…no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come." God’s timing is never late, even if it feels invisible to our eyes.

Growth often comes through tension. Struggle is not failure; it is the soil where faith is planted and roots deepen. Jesus did not call His followers to a life free of challenge but to a life transformed by trust. When you feel like you cannot trace Him:

Lean into His Word, even when understanding is hard.
Listen for His voice in prayer, even if it is quiet.
Look for His fingerprints in small, everyday moments of provision, peace, and perspective.
Trust the Spirit’s guidance when circumstances seem unclear.

Courage in the Confusion

When you feel lost, Jesus’ words still shine: "…if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24). Belief is the bridge between struggle and salvation, doubt and deliverance. Your inability to trace Him perfectly does not mean He is absent. In fact, these very moments are where trust grows strongest. Faith is not about seeing the full path; it is about taking the next step knowing He is there, even in the shadows.

Delay does not diminish divine love.
Struggle does not sabotage salvation.
Obedience in uncertainty produces spiritual endurance and deeper intimacy with God.

Hope That Holds

Jesus’ life shows that triumph often begins where struggle starts. Verse 30 says, "As he spoke these words, many believed on him." Belief comes in stages. You may not feel the full revelation of God today, but your small steps of trust are seen and multiplied by His Spirit. Holding on, even when it is hard, is part of your story of faith.

Remember, growth is a journey, not a sprint. Even when you cannot trace Him clearly:
God is shaping your heart in ways you cannot yet see.
Every act of trust, prayer, or obedience plants seeds for future joy.
Your faithfulness, though quiet, contributes to His eternal work.

Lean into His presence with expectation, even if it is invisible. Keep stepping forward. Keep trusting. The God who lifted the Son of Man is the same God lifting you through every hidden moment, every quiet struggle, and every uncertain step.

Journeying with Jesus