Excuse me. Who are you, again?

In the next section, Jesus reaches out to them by rattling their thoughts. He knew what they didn't know, so he gets them to ask about it:

John 8:21-25a

So he said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." So the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." So they said to him, "Who are you?"

Jesus talks about what will happen in the future with his death, and what will happen if they choose not to believe in him as their savior. This is surely still true today. The responses to Jesus' statements come from the logical standpoint that they still thought he was a mere man. If my neighbor goes somewhere, legality aside, I should (in theory) be able to follow. For living people, death is the most obvious place we just can't go, but they don't believe he'll kill himself. So that's why they ask who Jesus really is.

I think Jesus emphasizes that he can't die in sin when he repeats the fact that everyone else will. He doesn't say it directly because some people would (probably) immediately claim blasphemy and distract the open-mindedness of the group.

A side note for that section is that believers still die, but our sins have been paid for by the blood of Jesus. We're already dead to sin (Romans 6:1-14 ESV). That's why we don't physically die still in our sins - Jesus took them to the cross.

John 8:25b

Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.

Just to be clear, Jesus did instruct others not to say who he was at the beginning of his ministry (Mark 1:25, 34, 44-45 ESV). That said, those he healed usually knew who he really was, and as soon as the word was out, he claimed his titles of Son of Man and Son of God.

John 8:26-27

I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.

This next bit is pretty easy: Jesus knows you. Jesus knows me. He certainly knew those listening, because he says he has much to say about them! Think of how much useless junk you can say about people whom you don't even know. Now think about those close to you. For me, at least, it's a big difference. And not all of the stuff I can think of is good stuff, which is why Jesus has 'much to judge.' I know that I'm saved so my sins are forgiven, and I encourage anyone reading who isn't a believer to know and accept Jesus as your personal savior, because you will not need to fear the coming judgement.

What does Jesus gain by declaring that he hears God, and does his work? He lets us know who's in charge. He's here in the full power and authority of God himself. When Jesus claims authority, he claims it in the Father's name. What an example of who we are to be: Giant signposts pointing to God.

John 8:28-30

So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me."

Some foreshadowing again of what will happen sets the tone for his next big declaration:

John 8:29-30

"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." As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

God is with Jesus because Jesus seeks things pleasing to God. In the Old Testament, there were a few whom God never left alone, two of whom were Moses and Joshua (Joshua 1:5 ESV). Those who are saved have the Holy Spirit in them always (John 14:16-20 ESV). As Jesus is our perfect example of how we are to live, it's painfully obvious how we avoid being alone: "Always do the things that are pleasing to [God]."