Before Abraham Was, I AM

Jesus escaped from angry Jewish leaders after testifying about His divine nature. Jesus revealed Himself as eternal God. The leaders declared him demon-possessed and attempted to through stones at Him.

Notes

8:48-51 The Jewish leaders demonize Jesus. Their hate is open on display by their baseless accusations: "You are a Samaritan" - Wrong. Jesus was a Jew who kept and fulfilled Mose's law. "You have a Demon" - Wrong. This is a baseless accusation thus far. Jesus responds by stating the facts first: I have no demon I honour My Father You dishonour me But it doesn't matter...I don't seek the glory of men Because I know that God gives the glory that counts And I'll continue with God's promises. Your attacks won't stop me from doing God's will! Just amazing! The Lord is under nasty attacks but sticks with the facts and continues His mission of bringing eternal salvation to all who would believe. Whose honour do you seek, Christian? Have attacks distracted you from doing God's will? 8:52-53 Jesus's answer further irritated them, and they continued declaring him as demon-possessed. Why? Jesus promised eternal life to those who remain in His word. They perceived this to be impossible because Abraham and the prophets were dead. The Jews missed that Jesus was talking about spiritual life that goes beyond this short natural life. They saw Jesus as a mere human being that was demon-possessed. 8:54-56 56 "Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." How did he see it? He saw it by faith. God promised, and he believed and received insight by faith. In this manner, believers already see by faith Christ's return and the redemption of creation and their bodies...they see heaven. 56 Jesus calls Abraham their father this time. He refers to their lineage. He stated earlier that their spiritual father was the devil. 8:57-58 Jesus declares His divine origin openly. "Before Abraham was, I AM." Wow! The "I AM" self-revelation statement of God was well known by the Jews since God has revealed himself to Moses in that way Ex 3:14 . Jesus shows clearly His eternal nature as a human being with the "I AM" statement. He was, is, and will ever be. No beginning and no end. 8:59 Jesus "I AM" God-revelation instantly brought the Jewish leaders to 180 degrees. They wouldn't listen to a human being claiming to be God. Blasphemy - they thought - and took stones to throw at Him. The very thing that God used to identify and communicate with humans became a stumble to others. Some realized that only God can do what Jesus did. But others had excluded the possibility of God's ability and willingness to come to His creation in human form.

DiscourseDetailed

editing

John 8:48-59

nkjv

Then the Jews answered and said to Him,

“Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

ideaexplanation

Jesus answered,

“I do not have a demon;

but I honor My Father,

negativepositive

and you dishonor Me.

concessive

And I do not seek My own glory;

there is One who seeks and judges.

ground

Most assuredly, I say to you,

if anyone keeps My word

he shall never see death.”

conditional

inference

questionanswer

Then the Jews said to Him,

“Now we know that You have a demon!

Abraham is dead, and the prophets;

and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word

he shall never taste death.’

situationresponse

Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead.

Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

bilateral

Jesus answered,

“If I honor Myself,

My honor is nothing.

It is My Father who honors Me,

of whom you say that He is your God.

Yet you have not known Him,

but I know Him.

And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’

I shall be a liar like you;

but I do know Him and keep His word.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day,

and he saw it and was glad.”

progression

Then the Jews said to Him,

“You are not yet fifty years old,

and have You seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them,

“Most assuredly, I say to you,

before Abraham was,

I AM.”

temporal

Then they took up stones to throw at Him;

but Jesus hid Himself

and went out of the temple,

going through the midst of them,

and so passed by.

actionmanner

actionresult

First the facts: I have no demon I honour My Father You dishonour me But it doesn't matter...I don't seek the glory of men Because I know that God gives the glory that counts And I'll continue with God's promise. Your attacks won't stop me from doing God's will!... Just amazing! The Lord is under nasty attacks but He sticks with the facts and continues His mission of bringing eternal salvation to all who would believe.

My honor is nothing, however My Father honors me

You say you know God, nevertheless you do not know him

They were ready to through stones, nevertheless, they were not able to because Jesus hid and went away.

discourse

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