The challenges of the times, particularly in the developing world is driving many to undesirable ends; from a sense of societal rejection, to flight to kinder climes and in the absence of that, to depression and in extreme cases to suicide attempts! In the midst of all this the Creator of mankind has His hands stretched out offering hope to an unperceiving people. Our text records the discussion the Lord had with the religious leaders of His days, who were so pre-occupied with maintaining their societal eminence, that they missed the essence of His message.

Jesus said these things in the treasury while He was teaching in the temple [court]; but no one ventured to arrest Him, because His hour had not yet come. Therefore He said again to them, I am going away, and you will be looking for Me, and you will die in (under the curse of) your sin. Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come. At this the Jews began to ask among themselves, Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come? He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be–if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.  John 8:20-24 (AMPC)

The Lord made bold statements with such uncommon certainty of mankind’s end that other religions prevaricate on, because they consider man’s end a function of his performance or efforts! Fallen man is of an earthly order, slaves of sin and Satan, the dark ruler and author of sin! It is self-deceit to believe that mankind can get to the home above and be with the Holy Heavenly Father and King who cannot look upon the squalor of sin. There has to be atonement to remove the scarlet stain that marked the soul of humankind.

If there is any lesson learnt from the sacrifices and worship procedure outlined for Israel in the Torah, it is how costly every sacrifice is; a pointer to the cost of redemption from sin. The very details outlined in the book of Leviticus were intended for us to understand the holiness of God, man’s sinfulness and the consequences of disobedience, and in every sacrifice a reflection of the cost of sin. The Psalmist looking forward captured it so well in Psalms 49:6-9 (AMPC)—

Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?  None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him–For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice–So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.

So what chance does a man have, that he thinks wealth, flight or suicide will be the solution to an acceptable end, either in this world or above! The solution is clearly not in the purview of man that is still under the curse of sin as clearly outlined in our text above and repeated here—That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be–if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins.

Are you still under the curse of sin? Selah