Day 37 of 49
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.
Jn 8:48–59.
John introduced Jesus as the one who not only existed with God from the beginning, but was God. Jesus came to make God known to those who had never seen God. He came to those who should have known him, but they did not recognize him (Jn 1:1-12).
John the Baptist gave witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God, “who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) and that Jesus was the Son of God (Jn 1:34).
John 8:31-47 is a continuance of the discussion about the identity of Jesus. The audience at the Temple included those who believed in him, those who doubted, and those who were out to destroy him.
Not knowing they were slaves to sin, they saw themselves as children of Abraham, living under the blessing and righteousness of God. Blinded to their need of a deliverer, they did not recognize him as the one who could set them free from sin (Jn 8:36).
Jesus continued to correct their perception of their own identity. They thought that because they were Jewish, they would always be blessed by God, regardless of how they acted. They felt they had the right to righteousness because they were the children of Abraham. Jesus brought their attention to their actions, words, and lack of belief to point out that they were not aligning themselves with God, but with the devil, the father of lies.
Probably the key question in John 8:48-59 is “Who do you think you are?” The Jews didn’t believe he was who he said he was and accused him of being demon possessed or a Samaritan…which in the Hebrew mindset were equivalent. They accused him of being the exact opposite of his real identity, I AM and the only man without sin, the Son of David.
When he answered their question truthfully, “Before Abraham was, I AM”, they picked up stones to stone him for claiming to be God.
I sometimes question how I would have responded had I been there. We live on this side of the cross and have insight people of the day did not possess. The prophesies and signs all pointed to his identity, but would I have seen it?
Just as it is today, God is the one who draws us to himself. “Whoever is of God hears the words of God” (Jn 8:47)
Jesus honored God in his words and actions. He spoke what he heard from his Father, he acted as his Father desired.
Our lives reflect on our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Those who don’t believe are watching us, to see if our words and deeds match our witness on the identity of Christ.
Does our life match our witness?
Do we live a Christ-centered life?
Do we obey the Lord in thought, word, and action?
Do we walk in the fear of the Lord?
Do we highly regard the Lord?
Do we walk with integrity in all aspects of our life?
Or do we bless God, but curse the people around us?
What does Jesus as I AM mean to us?
- As God, he is all we need, always for us, and ever with us.
- He is God wrapped up in one man, revealing the nature and work of God.
- He demonstrated the love of God, suffering humiliation and death so that we can know and be in relationship with God.
Lord, you are, you have always been, you always will be. Thank you for caring about each one of us, reaching out to where we are and drawing us to your presence.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Jn 1:1–4.
TRICIA LATHROP 