Before Abraham was, I AM

Lesson #152

We continue with the conversation between Jesus and the Jews with Jesus saying, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56 ESV). Jesus had identified their father spiritually as the devil and now he identifies Abraham as their father in the family tree. Abraham is not only their father, but he is the father of the whole Church (See the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1 – 17). Spiritually, Abraham looked ahead and saw the coming of Jesus and what that meant for the people of faith. In some way God allowed Abraham to see the coming of Jesus and all that he would provide in establishing his kingdom. Abraham was able to see it and he was glad.

As expected the Jews respond by saying to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” (John 8:57 ESV). The implication is that Jesus is not old enough to have seen Abraham, who died many centuries before. Notice that Jesus never said that he saw Abraham, but that Abraham saw his day. That is quite different.

To that Jesus responds with a most powerful claim which we will see brings the Jews to the point of attempted murder. “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”” (John 8:58 ESV). The Jews pointed out that Jesus was not old enough to see Abraham. Jesus then claimed that he was alive before Abraham, over 2000 years ago. Claiming to exist over 2000 years ago raises himself above man to the existence of God. In this, Jesus claims to be eternal and in fact is identifying himself as the I AM who spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The Jewish opponents understood this claim clearly and picked up stones, to stone him to death for blasphemy.

“So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (John 8:59 ESV). According to Leviticus 24:16, stoning was the prescribed punishment for blasphemy. However, the Jews were wrong in attempting the execution themselves. This means of punishment was to be the result of righteous judgment, not mob violence. The Jews were not successful because it was not yet time for the death of Jesus, which was to occur on the cross. Jesus, somehow eludes them as chapter 8 ends.

Prayer

Father, if anyone reads the scriptures with an open mind to learn what it has to say, I find it hard to understand how anyone cannot see Jesus for who he is, but I also know from our study of John that without your draw on a person, that person will be unable to understand. Father, thank you for giving me an understanding of who Jesus is and a desire to want to come to him for salvation.