John Calvin Commentary John 8:22

"The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?" — John 8:22 (ASV)

Will he kill himself? The scribes persist not only in fearless scorn, but also in insolence; for they ridicule what he had said, that they cannot follow whither he shall go; as if they had said, “If he kill himself, we acknowledge that we cannot accompany him, because we do not choose to do so.” They regarded Christ’s absence as a matter of no consequence, and thought that in every way they would gain a victory over him; and so they told him to go away wherever he pleases.

Shocking stupidity! But this is how Satan deludes the reprobate, so that, drunk with more than animal-like indifference, they may throw themselves into the middle of the flame of God’s wrath.

Do we not today see the same rage in many who, having dulled their consciences, insolently make jokes and act like buffoons concerning everything that they hear about the terrible judgment of God? Yet it is certain that this is a forced or mocking smile, because they are pierced internally with hidden wounds; but suddenly, like men deprived of their senses, they burst out into furious laughter.