Post by foxjj on Sept 20, 2024 21:02:38 GMT
Before Abraham Was, I Am
John 8:48-59 are the closing verse’s of a dialogue Jesus had with a group of Pharisees of whom John refers to as the Jews, in which He had proclaimed: “I am the light of the world.” The Pharisees were seeking a way of finding fault with Jesus in order to bring charges against Him to the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling Jewish court.
“48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.”- John 8:48-59 (ESV)
The Samaritan’s were a people of mixed race who held to the Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the Old Testament. They also worshipped on Mount Gerizim instead of the Temple in Jerusalem. These differences created animosity between the Jews and Samaritans to the extent that Jews such as the Pharisees, would not enter Samaritan territory consequently, to be called a Samaritan was an insult. To be accused of having a demon, was to say that you had no control over your actions.
Psalm 69:7 foretold that, as Messiah, Jesus would be dishonored and not accepted: “For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.”
Understanding verse 51 is crucial to saving faith: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” This verse separates believers from the world. Natural human death is common to all however, eternal death, and the assurance of eternal life separates believers from the rest of the world.
John 3:16-18 is an example of The Fathers love for the world:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Verse 58 states Jesus answer: “before Abraham was, I am.” This is a very telling statement. Jesus is proclaiming that He is more than human. The original I Am statement is found in Exodus 3:13-14:
“Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’””
In using the words I Am, Jesus is stating that He is Divine, consequently, in their righteous anger the Pharisees attempt to stone Him to death for blasphemy. Although Jesus came in love - showing the love of The Father - He was rejected to the point of eventually being crucified. Again, He showed His love by accepting the cross, becoming The Sin Bearer on our behalf, by which He offered redemption and eternal life to all who turn to Him in repentance.
In closing, let us read these important verses from first John:
“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”- 1 John 5:9-12 (ESV)
Today, let us give praise to our Savior and Lord.
John Joseph Fox.