4/15

John 8:58

⁵⁸Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

Jesus had told an unreceptive crowd that they were of their father the devil. They told Jesus that they believed He was demon possessed. They claimed that Abraham was their father. Then Jesus told them that if they were children of Abraham they would listen to Him, for Abraham had rejoiced to see Him. The crowd answered that this was impossible because Jesus wasn't even fifty years of age. Jesus' response is our verse for today. It is one of the numerous "I am" statements of Jesus.

When Moses met with God at the burning bush, God declared His name to be "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). God isn't in the past or the future but is always present, transcending time. The crowd was right to understand Jesus' statement to be a claim to being God; therefore, not believing Him, they picked up stones to stone Him to death for blasphemy.

Abraham did meet with Jesus when God made a covenant with Him (Genesis 15:17-19) and when He came to his tent on the way to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:1). The Jews were struggling with the idea that the Messiah could be God and man. Jesus was trying to help them by reminding them that God in human form was not a new thing. While they claimed Abraham as their father, they forgot that Abraham had met a man who was the Lord. Many Jews and Muslims still struggle with this same problem, and both claim Abraham as their forefather.

Consider: Jesus was very clear in declaring Himself to be all God and all man. How else would God clearly show us that He understands our condition and has provided redemption for our sins? Could God demonstrate His love to a greater extent than taking the punishment we deserve? Go to Him in prayer and thank Him for revealing the greatness of His love for you.