Before Abraham was, I Am

I don’t know if you remember or not, but way back in John 1, we spent the first few weeks going over the first 18 verses of John’s Gospel.

In your bibles these 18 verses are most likely titled the prologue.

And in the prologue, John is going to lay out the themes of his gospel.

And we will see those themes time and time again.

One of those main themes is light.

John 1:4-5 “4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

John 1:9 “9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”

Fast Forward a couple of chapters to chapter 3 and we read.

John 3:19-21 “19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.””

And here is a picturesque example of the darkness hating the truth.

These Jewish leaders are hating the truth that Jesus is exposing to them.

The evil hates the light.

And as the light shines brighter the evil and darkness gets deeper.

And as the darkness gets deeper, they have no retort for Jesus.

They have nothing that they can say to him that is going to combat what he has already said about them.

So what do they do? What do most people do when they care confronted with a truth that they can’t dismiss or push aside?

They result to name calling.

They result to attacking the character of Jesus and not his arguments.

Side note: Don’t do this. If you have a problem with someone’s argument attack the argument not the person.

John 8:48–51 CSB

48 The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges. 51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Eternal Life

Jesus here is still combating with the same Jewish Leaders he was talking to for in verse 31-47.

But these Jewish leaders have now become defensive against what Jesus is saying.

If you don’t remember what Jesus said about these men here’s a little recap.

John 8:44 “44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 8:47 “47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.””

So Jesus is telling these religious men that they aren’t serving the God they claim to serve.

That they are just like the lying and murderous devil

That in fact he is their father.

Jesus is making these claims based on their actions.

Based on how they are treating him.

They are being confronted with the truth and they are reacting in evil and wicked ways.

The truth reveals their wickedness.

The truth reveals their brokenness.

The truth reveals the fact that they don’t belong to God.

They are fighting against Jesus.

Jesus is the bringer of light.

He is the source of all truth.

He is shinning on them and revealing their evil deeds and they hate him for it.

And what do they say about Jesus?

John 8:48 ““Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon?””

We talked about before in John 4 how the Jewish people thought of Samaritans.

They believed they were heretical half-breeds.

They were viewed as the scum of the earth.

They were seen as not worthy of respect or dignity.

So for them to say this about Jesus was to attack with a low blow.

To questions his very worth and dignity.

They obviously know that he isn’t from Samaria b/c he is the “backwoods prophet from Galilee.”

But not only do they accuse him of being a Samaritan, but they accuse him of having a demon.

This is no doubt in response to Jesus’ correct accusation of their father being the devil.

They are trying to cast shame on Jesus.

They are trying to turn the tables on Jesus.

They are acting like elementary aged kids on the play ground.

Chanting “I’m rubber and your glue, whatever bounces off of me sticks to you.”

Remember they know that they have already lost the fight.

They are now trying to save face.

And using every tool at their disposal to make Jesus look bad.

Why?

B/c they have lost the battle.

So Jesus responds to the Jewish Leaders.

Notice he doesn’t even respond to the claim about being Samaritan. He’s not even going to dignify that attack with a response.

But he does fight against the demon attack.

He throws down that reverse card and says actually, You are dishonoring God.

You are still children of the Devil.

You are accusing me of seeking my own glory, but I don’t seek my own glory I seek the Father’s Glory.

Jesus is going to talk more about the Father’s glory a little later, so for right now I want you to focus on verse 51.

John 8:51 “51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.””

This is the crux of these few verses.

Jesus is offering eternal life.

He is offering the opportunity to bypass death.

But he isn’t talking about a physical death.

Everybody dies.

He is talking about a spiritual death.

But notice the invite is for anyone to come, but only those that keep his word will inherit eternal life.

This is no doubt a further reflection on what he said in v. 31

Remember, John 8:31 “31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.”

Now those who continue in his word, keep his word aren’t only his disciples, but they also receive a reward.

If they abide.

If they continue.

If they keep.

If they stay committed to Jesus and his word they will not see condemnation.

They would avoid death.

Spiritual death.

Here’s the thing, when we face our physical death, there is going to be a time that we stand before God.

And he is going to separate us into two categories.

Those who honored, obeyed, and kept Jesus’ Words and those that didn’t.

Those who honored, obeyed, and kept Jesus’ Words are going to inherit eternal life.

Those who don’t will reap the reward of their sin and face spiritual death.

Death at its very core is separation.

So those who die physically and spiritually are going to be separated from God and in goodness.

God’s grace. God’s Love. God’s mercy.

They are going to be torn away from all that is good. Anything that is good.

Think about it real quick.

As bad as we think things are on this earth.

With sickness, death, evil, things aren’t exactly as bad as they could be.

I used to say a little joke when I was younger to make situations not seem as bad as they could be.

One of my friends would come up to be and complain about the ills of life, and I would simply say, “it could be worse, you could be on fire.”

And Though I know now that its better not to minimize somebodies thoughts and feelings, we do need to know that things are never as bad as they could be.

That doesn’t mean that things aren’t hard, that things are bad, but it should encourage us that the sun still comes up.

That we still have breath in our lungs.

That God is still in control and he is pouring out his grace on all of us.

A grace that we don’t deserve.

His common grace on humanity and his creation allows for any and all good that happens in this life.

But when we die, if we don’t enter into eternal life, things are going to be as bad as they can possibly be.

What do I mean?

For those that don’t have eternal life, they are going to experience God’s grace, goodness, and mercy removed from them.

There will be no more good. No more Grace.

It will be all bad, all the time.

But that doesn’t have to be anyone’s fate.

You can have eternal life.

You can experience God’s Grace forever.

But there is a requirement to enter into eternal life.

You have to keep his word.

You have to repent or turn away from your sin.

You have to listen and obey Jesus’ instruction.

When he says you have to keep his word, what does that mean?

It means you will hold on to what he teaches.

It means you will continue to grow in grace and truth.

It means that you will allow the light to show you the darkness within you and you will allow him to transform you.

To change you.

To make you and shape you into his image.

If you keep his word you will have eternal life.

You will live forever in his grace, love, and mercy.

But here’s what I want you to know and make the connection.

Eternal life isn’t the only goal.

It is the reward.

The goal is to keep, remain, abide, and continue in his word.

Sometimes we can get so focused on heaven.

So focused on eternal life that we miss what Jesus is actually saying.

When he says “if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

That means that your calling doesn’t stop at wanting heaven.

If you are a Christian then you are to do what Christ does.

Listen to what Jesus teaches.

Hold on to those principles and edicts.

Simply put if you live the life that Jesus has designed the way that Jesus designed it then you will have eternal life.

Again, being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus isn’t about easy believism.

It’s about life transformation.

It’s not about agreeing with Jesus its about living for Jesus.

A life change.

A heart change.

A lifestyle change.

A change of affections.

A change of desires.

A change of focus.

A change of intelligence from the things of this world to the things of God.

A change that can only be done by the grace of God.

And When God Changes you, you will love him with all that you are, all that you hope to be and you will love others as yourself.

That’s what it means to hold on to or keep Jesus’ words to love God will all that you are and love people as you love yourself.

And in that we won’t be like the Jewish leaders.

We honor the Son.

We honor the Father.

We seek his glory, his renown.

We will deny ourselves take up our cross and follow him.

We will know the truth and that truth will set us free.

And if we continue, if we persevere, if we abide in that truth and freedom we will have eternal life.

But this kind of freedom and eternal life sounds ridiculous to some.

They ask how we can believe in these things.

How can we believe in these fairy tales.

We are blinded.

We are deceived.

And when they say these things to you, just know that Jesus experienced that same kind of push back.

John 8:52–56 CSB

52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. 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 claim to be?” 54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me. 55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Glory of God

They are now convinced that Jesus is demon possessed.

Everyone dies.

Abraham and the prophets died.

How can someone live forever.

They are missing the point.

Jesus isn’t talking about physical death.

He’s talking about spiritual death.

They want to know if Jesus is claiming to be better than Abraham.

Well not yet, but he soon will.

Rather than play their games Jesus changes the focus.

Jesus decides that it’s time to help them see differently.

And so he refocuses on what’s most important.

Bringing glory to the Father.

Jesus was on a mission to glorify the Father.

He was on a mission to make sure the world could see that the Father had designed the pathway to freedom and reconciliation.

The Father is key to who Jesus is.

And what Jesus came to do.

Jesus was not seeking fame and fortune for himself.

He wasn’t healing and performing miraculous signs to make much of himself.

He wasn’t standing up and crying out to drink from the rivers of life for himself.

He wasn’t declaring that he is the light of the world for himself.

He wasn’t feeding the 5000 for himself.

All that He did.

All that He said.

All that he taught was to bring glory to the Father.

And through his obedience and sacrifice God was glorify him.

This week as I was studying this passage I went down a rabbit hole.

I was thinking about God’s glory and what it actually means.

We say it a lot, but we actually know what it means?

The glory of God is one of his attributes.

It’s his majesty, splendor, and beauty.

Glory is God’s reputation and identity.

God’s Glory is also his actions in the world.

God’s glory is also demonstrated in the OT as his presence with his people.

It’s described as his “Shekhinah Glory” or his dwelling glory in the pillar of fire and the cloud by day following Israel around.

Also his dwelling in the tabernacle and temple.

God’s glory is revealed to us in these ways and there is definitely more that can go into this conversation, but this will suffice it for now.

So if those things are God’s Glory how do we glorify God?

How did Jesus Glorify God?

We glorify God when we go public with his infinite worth.

When we put on display all that makes God who he is.

When we do the things that he has called us to do.

When as we are living a life dedicated to him we point past ourselves and make sure that God’s name and his renown are proclaimed.

When we seek to know him and show him each day to those around us.

When we cultivate the kingdom of God all around us.

This is how we glorify God, we don’t make him bigger or more beautiful we point others to his goodness.

We do things that honor him.

We do things that bless others.

We never loose focus that our calling as children of God is to make much of him.

We are never the point. We are never the end. We are never the ones to receive honor or praise.

It’s all for him.

The Westminster Catechism is an old document that teaches new believers what it means to love God. How we worship God. Good and sound doctrine.

It’s a series of questions and answers that help us think through Christianity.

And it begins with this Question: What is the chief end of Man? The answers is to glorify God and and to enjoy him forever.

That is why mankind was created.

Unfortunately, sin and its corruption entered into the world through pride, arrogance, and deception and now instead of Glorifying God we believe our chief end it to have a happy life, make lots of money, or make our mark on this earth.

But through Jesus we see that a life that glorifies God is how our life was designed to be lived.

We were created and designed to glorify God.

And if we live within that design we have a blessed and fulfilled life.

Notice what Jesus said, “My glory is nothing…My Father…he is the one that glorifies me.”

Jesus is focused on the Father’s glory and by that he will receive Glory from God.

And guess what if we honor Jesus and glorify the Father we will share in Jesus’ Glory.

We will get to revel in and be blessed by God the creator of heaven and earth.

But we have to know him.

We have to trust him.

We have to turn from our wickedness and embrace the grace that he has for us.

And this is all done by keeping Jesus’ Word.

Abiding hin his word.

Continuing in his word.

And Jesus tells us in v. 55 that He “keeps his Word.”

So get this if we keep Jesus’ word v. 51, v.31 then we are automatically keeping The Father’s Word.

And by keeping the Word of Jesus and the word of the Father we are Glorifying God.

But these Jewish leaders are blinded by their sinfulness to see Jesus for who he is.

They think that they are keeping God’s Word, but they are merely seeking their own recognition, their own self-righteousness.

These men were really good at putting on a performance for the world to see.

So that they could be revered.

So that they could be glorified, but they didn’t seek God’s glory only their own.

The creator of the world was standing in front of them but they were too blind to see.

They had their religious activities and that was good enough for them.

They didn’t want God, b/c his glory would steal away from theirs.

And they continue to appeal to Abraham as their father and example.

So Jesus responds to them with this tidbit.

John 8:56 “56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.””

Abraham knew that there would be a day when someone greater was going to come.

Abraham knew that there was going to be one who brought joy and restoration to all the nations.

That through this one all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

Abraham knew this.

He longed for that day.

He rejoiced knowing that God was doing something bigger and greater than his one family.

Some Rabbis even held to the idea that Abraham was shown the future in a vision of the age to come.

And maybe that’s what Jesus is feeding off of now.

The point Jesus was making is that someone greater than Abraham had arrived.

And it boggles the mind of these Jewish leaders.

John 8:57–59 CSB

57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple.

I Am

They push back against Jesus.

There’s no way Abraham could have rejoiced at your coming

You’re not old enough, respected enough, or wise enough to make that claim.

You’re not even 50 years old yet.

Abraham had been dead for 2000 years, there is no way that he could have seen you or known you.

The time and space difference is much too great.

But Jesus makes quite possible the most shocking statement in John this far.

It is going to enrage the Jewish leaders.

It is going to cause them to want to kill him all the more.

With 2 simple words, one simple phrase he demonstrates his importance.

“I Am”

john 8:58 “58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.””

Many opponents of the Bible state that Jesus never claimed to be God.

And their somewhat right.

Jesus never plainly says, “I am God.”

But here, is a declaration of his divinity.

There are a couple of claims that Jesus makes here.

Jesus could have said before Abraham was, I was.

That would have made more grammatical sense.

It would have been easier to understand.

But He says I am.

He is proclaiming his preexistence.

That he existed before his physical body standing before them.

That he has existed since before Abraham.

“I Am” is the divine name of God.

Is 41:4 “4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I am the Lord, the first and with the last—I am he.””

Is 43:13 “13 Also, from today on I am he alone, and none can rescue from my power. I act, and who can reverse it?””

When Moses was called by God to free Israel from their bondage to Egypt and God met Moses at the burning bush.

Exo 3:13-14 “13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.””

And we can tell that this was no small statement.

The Jewish leaders knew exactly what Jesus was claiming and we know this b/c of their actions.

They pick up stones to to stone him.

This was a punishment for Blasphemy.

They knew that Jesus was claiming to be equal with God.

But more than that they knew that Jesus was claiming to be God.

But Jesus was able to escape their attempt on his life.

Why? B/c it was not yet his time.

So through divine action he escaped with his life.

Some commentators reflect on Jesus’ leaving the temple area here in John 8 as a reflection of the Glory of God leaving the temple in the OT.

In Ezekiel 10 God’s glory leaves the temple.

And here in God’s glory in the Son, Jesus Christ came to earth and was rejected by the people he came to save.

The Glory of god revealed in the Son leaves the temple b/c of the hard heartedness of his people.

Because of their rejection of him.

In stead of rejoicing there