John 8:47-59 Before Abraham Was, I AM

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Before Abraham Was, I AM

John 8:47-59

Introduction: The Feast of Tabernacles was a special week for the Jews, a year-end celebration of the harvest. This particular year was filled with excitement. Jesus had come at a feast earlier in the year and healed a man on the Sabbath who had been an invalid for 38 years. Though the Jews missed the point, the message was clear – Jesus had announced deliverance, a new exodus, just as had repeatedly been promised by Isaiah. But instead of rejoicing, the consensus of the leaders was the kill him.

Now Jesus has returned to the final feast of the year. At first it was a private arrival, but in the middle of the feast he began teaching in the temple. On this visit, no miracles are recorded. Instead, Jesus confronts the leaders and the crowds plainly proclaiming himself as God in the flesh who has come to save them from the bondage of the devil.

If you have ever thought that people responded poorly to your attempts to give them the good news of God, spend these few days with Jesus. They hate him and they want to kill him. That alone is a lesson for us. The last words of this section (59) are, “So they picked up stones to throw at him…” And why? Because he said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” 

1. Three Challenges to Unbelief
   1. “Whoever Is of God, Hears the Words of God”
      1. Verse 47: This is such a striking but simple statement by Jesus. Take a moment to consider these words before we look at the context. 
      2. Jesus’ words are very straight forward. They are not hard to understand, but they are also quite judgmental and the Jews felt their impact. It doesn’t matter how much a person proclaims to believe in God or be a follower of God, if that person does not hear the words of God, then he/she is not of God. Consider that from verse 31 through 59, Jesus refers to his word, the word of God, and the truth ten times.
      3. The Jews approach to believing in God is widespread today. These aren’t atheists. These are the most outwardly religious people of that time. Today, millions claim to believe in God and in Jesus. Millions are dedicated to their faith in God. Paul said his Jewish brethren had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Rom. 10:2). Therefore, the plain teaching of Jesus remains: the true test is whether or not a person hears the words of God. If not, they are not of God.
      4. Further, this same person who is zealously religious toward God, but who does not hear the words of God, fits into the category of verse 44. If we are not of God, there is only one other choice; we are following our own desires and therefore of the devil. Consider: people who are looking like believers, even claiming to be believers, are of their father the devil. 
   2. Verse 48: Hearing these words, our first thought is that the Jews have simply given up their argument and resorted to name-calling. However, connecting their statement as a reply to verse 47, makes more sense.
      1. Jesus accused the Jews, those who were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the promises of being no different than Gentile idolators. If they are without God, they are separated from hope. Of course, if you are these Jews, that is the most outrageous accusation that could be made about them.
      2. Now we understand their reply. To be a Samaritan was to deny to heritage of Israel and follow a perverted form of Judaism. Jesus even told the woman at the well that Samaritan worship was out of ignorance. Any teaching that was against what they perceived to be the truth, was promoted by demons. Of course, that is true if what is being taught is actually false. But Jesus is speaking the truth and they have lived contrary to both the Law and the teaching of Jesus.
   3. Verse 50, 54: “I do not seek my own glory… It is my Father who glorifies me.” This statement seems subtle, but so important. One of the primary reasons these Jews did not follow Jesus is that it would mean giving up their own glory. Position in this life is a major hindrance to coming to Christ. Even Jesus was not seeking his own glory even though he of all people deserved it. He seeks the glory of the Father and therefore it does not matter what he would have to give up to do so.
      1. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24).
      2. We must always identify those things in our lives that we want to hold on to so that we do not lose eternal life for the accolades of others. The Father’s glory must be our only concern.
   4. Verse 55: “You say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him.”
      1. Again, Jesus evaluates a true disciple beyond what a person proclaims or the way he identifies himself. They claimed that God was their God. But Jesus said, “You have not known him.” Consider that it doesn’t matter to Jesus that these Jews are well acquainted with the scriptures. It is not that they are ignorant of God, it is that they do not know him. 
      2. We must focus on those last words. We would all claim that God is our God, but that is not the same as knowing him. This further urges us to study differently than what has been traditionally done. Cf. Ephesians 3:14-19.
2. “Before Abraham Was, I AM”
   1. When Jesus said, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death,” the Jews immediately called him out as one who was greater than Abraham who died. Jesus replied with two truths that sent them over the edge:
   2. 56: “Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” What an amazing statement! Abraham not only realized that one of his offspring would take away death forever and rejoiced over it, but he had now seen that day! This is similar to Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus at the transfiguration and discussing his upcoming death. It is the same as Jesus telling the Sadducees that “I am of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” meant to these three patriarchs still lived. Abraham was rejoicing that he was now seeing Jesus’ day.
   3. 59: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
      1. Jesus makes an obvious claim that he is the same God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush. To be the I AM at the burning bush means he is the same God who delivered Israel from bondage and the same God who destroyed Egypt and all the nations who rebelled against him. Yes, this Jesus is that God.
      2. If we finish the OT statement it is even more compelling: “I AM the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” We do not grasp this statement well. It is easy to say Jesus came to the earth, but it is a whole different matter to believe that the God who spoke the worlds into existence had so much concern for our salvation that he personally came to earth. Therefore, consider who we are rejecting when we reject Jesus and his teaching. To make light of any of Jesus’ commands or teachings is to reject the very God who condemned Cain for his sacrifice, kill Nadab and Abihu for their worship, killed Uzzah for touching the ark of the covenant, and three times destroying the nation of Israel in unprecedented brutality by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Romans.
3. The Importance of this Lengthy Debate
   1. Let’s stop and give a broad picture observation and application. If you wonder why Jesus continues to debate these Jews in spite of their stubborn unbelief and wicked retorts, consider:
      1. There is always a chance some will be saved, if not in the present moment, in future contemplation of this moment. Once Jesus dies and raises, some of these who are listening may recount this discussion in their minds and turn to God. We must always consider this possibility. Even though your present discussion may seem to be a waste of time, people often relive the conversation in a more sober moment.
      2. Further, one’s life can meet with trials and God can provide other opportunities. Peter spoke of the “day of visitation” that can come long after an initial exposure to truth. 
         1. This should remind us of how careful we must be in our demeanor. If Christ is the offense, then fine, it must be. But we must not be the offense (1 Peter 3:15). 
      3. Finally, be prepared for the opportunity. Your Bible study is not only for your personal growth. In fact, if you think of your study as something you only do for yourself, you will not grow (Hebrews 5:11-14). Studying to communicate the word is absolutely essential to being a disciple:
         1. By studying in order to teach what you have learned, you are forced to jot down notes and write conclusions and observations. Again, keep in mind the words: “when for the time, you ought to be teachers…”
         2. Studying without the purpose of sharing what you are learning, causes you to forget what you have learned and actually regress in your knowledge.
         3. This is a primary reason for our Bible classes. In a class format, we are give the opportunity to practice communicating what we have learned. The more we state our observations out loud, the better our ability and the more our knowledge is reinforced in our minds. We don’t exist as a church just for us. We are all missionaries.
         4. It keeps us from being slothful and falling away (Heb. 6).
         5. It was everything Jesus was about, and expected his offspring to do the same (Zechariah 3:8-10).
4. “He Will Never See Death” (51)
   1. Look more carefully at “never see death” (51). In verses 21, 24 Jesus warned the Jews that they were going to die in their sins. Can you imagine anything more horrifying? Our culture has an inordinate fear of death, but for all the wrong reasons. They fear losing this life when they should be fearing the loss of life eternal. If I’m talking to someone who is caught up in a sin, please consider Jesus’ warning about dying in your sins. And please do not think, “Oh I’ll get out of it one day.” You have no idea how deep you are getting. You are far more addicted, for more scarred in your mind than you realize. Getting “out” is not a snap of the fingers.
   2. Now go back to what started this debate with the Jews: “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” 
      1. Most of us have been very confused by that statement. We tend to think Jesus is talking about freedom from slavery. But the OT picture of freedom in the exodus from Egypt, Assyria, or Babylon is. quite different picture. As humans, we have always been owned, we have always had a master. Few recognize this.
      2. Therefore, it is more than a freedom from something, it is a freedom for something. God is offering us a freedom from a cruel master who only desires to oppress and destroy to a Master who frees us to live. Our God never does anything that is not for our good. Instead of degrading bondage, we have endless service to the God who remembers his covenant and keeps his promises and redeems us from oppression. Satan has never kept a promise he has made. Never. 
      3. When we abide in his word, we are considered true disciples who are set free from crippling and degrading sins that ruin our lives. Look around you and observe the ruined lives –– all because of sin. 

Conclusion: Throughout this text, Jesus was pleading with the Jews to come to him and escape dying in their sins. He makes the same plea of us today. Don’t be like these Jews.

Berry Kercheville