The Great I AM

John 8:48-59

Summary: In this passage, Jesus engages in a heated dialogue in which He asserts His eternal existence and divine authority, claiming, 'Before Abraham was, I am.' This declaration highlights His identity and underscores His preexistence and divinity, which challenges the religious leaders of His time.

How many of us have had insults hurled at us? Picture a moment of intense pain and anger: a crowd hurling insults at someone who came to help them. Jesus, at the center of that tumult, remained steadfast. His experience teaches us that insults can cloud our vision, but He saw through to the more profound need: love, grace, and redemption. When faced with criticism, can we look beyond the hurt and respond as He did—with forgiveness instead of indignation? This encourages us as we navigate our struggles with judgment from others.

Teaching: The teaching focuses on Christ's preexistence, His equality with God, and the implications of His claims for believers today. It emphasizes the importance of understanding who Jesus is in relation to our faith and His role in our salvation.

This passage points to the divinity of Christ, affirming that He is not just a historical figure but the eternal Word of God, equal with the Father. Throughout Scripture, Christ's pre-existence and divine authority are key themes that reveal God's plan for redemption.

Big Idea: The central idea is that understanding Jesus’ eternal existence changes our perspective on faith, identity, and eternity, encouraging a deeper relationship with Him as the I AM. We see in these passages that Authority Affirmed, Eternal Assurance, Relational Revelation, and Eternal Existence.

1. Authority Affirmed

John 8:48–50 ESV

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.

How many of you have siblings? Do any of you remember instances of mocking one another? It often starts playfully but can escalate into more serious mockery. Mocking or mimicking someone is unkind and should not be tolerated. Typically, when individuals mock others, it comes from their own insecurities about the person being mocked or what they represent. This behavior often shows up in the workplace, where employees might ridicule authority figures, and it's also common in the political arena. A notable example of this is the way some Jews ridiculed Jesus.

The Jews are upset because, in the preceding verses, Jesus refers to them as children of their father, Satan. Their response is to call Him a Samaritan and accuse Him of having a demon—two names that would undermine His authority. If someone can undermine a person’s authority, they can maintain the status quo.

Jesus tells them He is honoring His Father. Honor (τιμαώ) timao: means to hold in honor, hold with esteem, respect, and value- Jesus tells them that they dishonor the Father; why? John 5:23 Jesus clearly defines how you Honor the Father.

John 5:23 ESV

that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

They did not honor the One who had authority given to Him by the Father. Therefore, they dishonored God. This dishonor stemmed from their refusal to accept Christ for who He truly was. We can either honor God or dishonor Him based on how we accept Christ. If we accept Him solely as Savior and not as Lord, we express a clear disrespect and dishonor towards God.

Jesus did not seek (ζητἐω) His own glory John 5:44. His desire was to honor His Father. This stands in stark contrast to the world we live in today. We are often told to honor ourselves and pursue our desires for happiness. True happiness is found in honoring God by acknowledging our sins and asking Jesus for forgiveness.

John 5:44 ESV

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

You could highlight how Jesus’ conversation with the Jewish leaders exposes their misunderstanding of His identity. Emphasize that, like those leaders, we may also fail to recognize Jesus' divine authority in our lives. By understanding our need to honor Christ as the one who glorifies the Father, we can more fully embrace His eternal authority over our lives and circumstances.

2. Eternal Assurance

John 8:51–53 ESV

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?”

Verse 51 begins with αμἐν, αμἐν. John uses this double affirmation 23 times. Jesus is the only person in the Gospels who starts any sentence with "Amen." It appears 99 times throughout the Gospels. So why is this significant? It serves as a strong affirmation of what is being stated. By introducing His words in this way, Jesus identifies them as certain and reliable, making them binding on Him. In other New Testament writings, it is used at the end of prayers and doxologies to strengthen and confirm them.

Jesus is true and trustworthy for anyone to place their faith in. He will never leave or forsake those who call upon His name. Deuteronomy 31:6 Joshua 1:5 Psalm 94:14 Hebrews 13:5

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Joshua 1:5 ESV

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

Psalm 94:14 ESV

For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

These verses should comfort you in acknowledging that our Lord and Savior will never abandon us, even when we sin. Jesus’ statement, “Keep My Word,” means to accept Him. John 1:1 tells us Who the Word is. Paul tells us the Word is near, Romans 10:8

John 1:1 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Romans 10:8 ESV

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

Another promise that Paul clearly states is in Romans 10:13

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Consider exploring Jesus' promise of eternal life for those who keep His word, even in the face of skepticism. This point could encourage believers to stay committed to Christ's promises despite their doubts and challenges. It’s a call to trust in His words about eternal life, which offers hope and assurance in a world of uncertainty.

3. Relational Revelation

John 8:54–56 ESV

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.”

The Jews thought they knew who God was. First, the Pharisees and Sadducees are not the Levitical Priests that God established. They came about during the intertestamental period through the Maccabees. During this period, most of the legalistic laws were placed. IT benefited them the most and put an unnecessary burden on the Jewish people. It reminds me of our own government.

Jesus, who has always existed with the Father, shared an intimate relationship with Him. John 17:24 clearly states that His glory and honor derive from the Father. The Jewish leaders were dishonoring God by rejecting Christ; essentially, they were rejecting God Himself!

John 17:24 ESV

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Consider examining the contrast between the Jewish leaders’ assertions of knowing God and Jesus’ close relationship with the Father. Acknowledging Jesus as deeply connected to God encourages us to pursue a more profound relationship with Him, viewing Him not merely as a historical figure but as our living Savior and Lord.

4. Eternal Existence

John 8:57–59 ESV

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.

When Jesus said, “I AM,” He defined Himself as God. He was the burning bush that spoke to Moses, and it was He with whom Abraham spoke. He claimed His full deity!

 He begins His statement with “Amen, Amen.” What He said is trustworthy and the truth. By using the timeless “I Am” rather than “I was,” Jesus conveyed not only the idea of existence before Abraham but timelessness-the very nature of God Himself, Exodus 3:14.

Exodus 3:14 ESV

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

We are not worshiping through Jesus to the Father, but we are worshiping Jesus as God.

You could reflect on the significance of Jesus’ bold declaration, 'Before Abraham was, I am,' as the ultimate self-revelation of His divinity. This point invites listeners to confront the reality of Christ's eternal nature, which compels us to re-evaluate our understanding and relationship with Him, moving beyond familiarity to a posture of worship and awe.

Application:

These passages encourage us to rely on Him as our source of strength and guidance during our daily struggles and doubts about our faith. It also invites non-believers to explore the implications of Jesus’ claims about Himself. We do not serve something that is a fairy tale, but we serve the One True Living God, who became man to pay for our sins.