“Whoever
Obeys My Word
Will Never See Death”
The
Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and
demon-possessed?”
“I
am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you
dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it,
and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never
see death.”
At
this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died
and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never
taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the
prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Jesus
replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you
claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I
know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him
and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my
day; he saw it and was glad.”
“You
are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
“Very
truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this,
they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from
the temple grounds.
John 8:48-59
Jesus,
when challenged by the Jewish religious leaders about His identity, said He pre-dated
Abraham. He said, “before Abraham was born, I am.”
They knew He was not referring to a chronological age but was actually claiming
to be eternal by taking the ancient name of God, “I am.” But as a member of the
Trinity, He could make that claim legitimately.
Christ holds all things together.
Our
Daily Bread – January 29, 2017He