“Before Abraham was, I AM”
I. What Does This Mean?
II. The Comfort It Brings
John 8:46–59
[Jesus said:] “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
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. (ESV)
Prayer
We thank You Heavenly Father, that by Your grace, you have given us true faith in Your Word. Your holy, sinless Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, was made to be sin for us, and has freed us from sin and the great darkness of unbelief. Grant us humility and a sincere faith and love for Your Word. Amen.
Dear Fellow Redeemed,
The Pharisees rejected the words of Jesus. They prided themselves on being descendants of Abraham and heirs of God’s kingdom. They were religious leaders, well thought of, and prominent members of the Jewish community. They claimed to be children of God the Father. But just before our lesson takes place, Jesus says to them, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.”
Jesus does not mince words. Not only are they not children of God, but they are children of the devil. Most people are shocked by these statements from Jesus. Isn’t he normally more loving and patient with people? Isn’t this kind of harsh? As you read the Scriptures, there will be times where you are completely in awe of God’s mercy—like at the beginning of this chapter when Jesus says to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Yet, there are times like our lesson, where Jesus is quite pointed with the Pharisees. Why is this? When those who have fallen into sin come to Jesus with a sorry heart, Jesus graciously forgives them. However, when people refuse to repent and cling to their own man-made teaching, ignoring God’s word, Jesus harshly condemns. Jesus warns us because he wants us to be saved. If a person does not rely on Christ as their Savior, they can have no certainty of their salvation. Jesus’ words matter.
There are quite a few things going on in our lesson today. Since the Pharisees couldn’t find fault with Jesus’ teaching, they attack his person. They accuse him of sin and hurl insult after insult. They call him a Samaritan—which were a people hated by the Jews. They even accuse him of having a demon! But 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.” Here Jesus gives them a wonderful promise of eternal life to those who hear and believe his word, but the Pharisees did find not comfort, but offense. His words are a stumbling block. The Pharisees become furious, “Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
Jesus didn’t glorify himself. The Father had glorified and honored him. He spoke from heaven, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus was the Messiah—the Savior promised by God. The one all the Old Testament believers looked forward to with hope and anticipation. Jesus says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.” Abraham saw Jesus’ day with the eyes of faith. When he heard God’s promise that all the nations would be blessed through his Seed—his Offspring, he believed in the Savior who would come to suffer, die, and rise for him. Abraham was saved through the promise.
Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” This statement makes all the difference in the world. The Pharisees knew what this meant—which is why they tried stone to Jesus after he said it. So, what does Jesus mean by these words?
To understand Jesus words, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” we must go all the way back to Moses and the burning bush. Moses asked God what he should be called, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). When Moses began preaching to the Israelites, he explained to them, “’He Is’ sent me,” or, literally in Hebrew, “Yahweh sent me.” The Jewish people of Jesus’ day knew Moses’ story about “I AM” and Moses’ preaching in the name of “He Is.” This name for God was so sacred that they would never utter it. When the Pharisees heard Jesus refer to himself as “I AM,” they became furious because Jesus was saying that he was God.
If Jesus is God that means his words are true. The Pharisees despised this very thought, because that would mean that they would be stripped of their honor, good works, and family lineages as sons of Abraham. None of that mattered according to Christ—because it cannot save them. The Pharisees were prideful and self-righteous. They wanted to be acknowledged by God for their sacrifices.
When we hear about the Pharisees it’s easy for us to become judgmental of them, “I would never do that! I would have followed and listened to Jesus!” But these events are not written for us to boost our pride. Instead, these accounts are meant to humble us before God.
The Pharisees were descendants of Abraham, pious believers, and good neighbors. The Jews looked up to them with respect. Naturally, they were proud of themselves. What about us? Are you proud of your pious life? Do you think you should be more acknowledged for the sacrifices and kindnesses you do for the church or community? Do you like when Scripture condemns the sins of society, but ignore it or gloss over it when it pricks your conscience? Do we treat the sins of drunkenness, hatred, gossip, or lust as no big deal when we do it, but condemn it when done by others? Isn’t that what the Pharisees were doing?
To hear God’s word means to believe that Jesus’ words are true. You and I are sinners in need of help. We don’t need just a slight nudge in our journey to God. We don’t just need advice on how to live a God-pleasing life, we need someone to make us pleasing to God. We need someone to crush Satan’s head and open wide the gates of heaven. Jesus is saying, “I AM that Savior. I AM the One who can deliver you from death, forgive your sins, and take you to heaven with me. So, believe my word—repent of your sins, cast away your pride, and put your trust in me alone.” Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
The almighty Son of God, the great “I AM,” became man so that he could rescue us from sin and death. Jesus was the promised Seed of Abraham who would bless all nations—all people. Jesus became one of us so that he might redeem us. Athanasias, an early church Father once said, “God became man in order that man might become God in him” (De Incarn., 54). In other words, Jesus became man, so that we could become children of God through faith in Christ Jesus as Paul says in Galatians.
If Jesus was only a mere man, he would not have been able to save the world from sin and death. Yet, as both God and man in one person, his life laid down for us on the cross had eternal value. This was God’s plan before the foundation of the world, that he would redeem us “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:19).
The Fifth Sunday in Lent is known as Judica Sunday, which means judgement. When we stand before God’s judgement seat, there are only two possible verdicts. If we want to rely on our own righteousness—our own works, abilities, and intentions—we will be condemned. The great warning of our lesson is against persistent rejection of God’s word and relying on our own works. If we refuse to repent and hear God’s word, then there is no forgiveness, no hope, and no salvation. This is why pride is so dangerous. But if we rely on Christ alone for our salvation, the spotless Lamb of God, the one who became our Brother, we will be declared innocent—and shall not see death.
Yet, every one of us can still have some doubts or concerns about our death and judgement day. We can’t help but remember our sins and the times where we failed to act and live the way we should have. People say to me, “Pastor, I know God forgives me, but I sometimes wonder… it’s hard for me to forget about all the foolish things I have done in my past.”
Maybe there are certain sins that have been troubling you. Consider what Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Jesus came for sinners and that includes you!
Not only did Jesus come for you, but he says, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” This is the greatest comfort in the world! Your Savior is the Son of God! One theologian wrote, “That is our comfort, to know that in our redemption the suffering and death of the eternal God is lying in the balance. It is the eternal God that delivered us from eternal damnation. The eternal God suffered on the cross and has taken away the power of hell and damnation.” With Jesus in the balance of our salvation, we have HOPE!
None of us deserve heaven. The reason why some are saved and others condemned is not because one is better than the other—the difference is Jesus! Every single one of us is a sinner who has fallen for the devil’s temptations. But for those who repent of their sins and put their trust in Christ’s forgiveness which he earned on the cross—he promises eternal life.
Death for the believer is not a scary thing. We know where we are going because of Jesus’ word. Consider what comforting ways our Lord speaks about death, “The girl is not dead, but sleeping!” When our final hour shall come, we can confess with Simeon, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32).
This is why Christ wants us to hear his word. Those who ignore his word lose all certainty of life that Jesus gives. The devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh will always try to ignore and disregard God’s word. “Did God really say that?” But may we, by the grace of God, continue to stand fast in the faith to which we have been called and hear God’s word. For then, death will be but a doorway to eternal life in heaven. Amen.