John 8:54-59: a reflection

54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.” 59Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

The argument in the temple reaches its climax. Jesus tells his critics that he does not seek his own glory; his Father glorifies him, the very God they claim as theirs, though they do not truly know him. Then he makes a startling claim: Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and saw it, and was glad. They scoff, how can a man not yet fifty have seen Abraham? And Jesus answers with words that change everything: before Abraham was, I AM.

This is no ordinary statement. Jesus takes to himself the name God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, I AM, the name of the eternal, self-existent God. He is not merely older than Abraham; he is the eternal one who has no beginning. His listeners understand exactly what he means, and they pick up stones to kill him for blasphemy. There is no middle ground with a claim like this. Either it is the highest truth or the gravest offense.

The claim confronts you as much as it did them. Jesus is not simply a good teacher who lived long ago; he is the great I AM, eternal God, standing in time. That truth calls not for polite admiration but for worship. Let it lift your view of the One you follow. The Jesus who calls you is the same eternal God who spoke from the bush, before whom Abraham was but a creature. Bow before him, and adore him for who he is.

Lord Jesus, you are the great I AM, eternal God without beginning, before whom Abraham was but a creature. You are not merely a teacher I admire but the God I must worship. Lift my view of you, and draw my heart to adore you for who you truly are. I bow before the eternal One who has come to me. Amen.