HOST: Michael Whitworth
SPONSOR: Logos Bible Software
The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 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.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 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.’ 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. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
“Before Abraham was, I AM.” It is the climactic point in this discussion with the Jews and the most forthright statement that Jesus makes concerning His deity. Throughout this conversation, Jesus had tried unsuccessfully to convince the Jews that He was sent from the Father and that His relationship with the Father was special and unique. Their hearts were too hard, and their minds were too closed. As they continued to question and accuse Him, Jesus finally makes a statement that cannot be misunderstood. Notice that He doesn’t say, “I was,” but rather “I AM” after the fashion of the name that God told Moses to use in identifying Him to the Israelites (Exodus 3:14). It was a term that denoted every perfect quality of God, including His eternal and transcendent existence. It was reserved only for God. In applying that term to Himself, Jesus had unequivocally claimed to be deity, and that claim was one that the Jewish leaders could not accept. They had the accusation they had been looking for—blasphemy. The battle lines were drawn, and the stage was set…
Why do you think the Jews could not accept that Jesus was deity?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
