Scriptures
By Minister Charlene Brown
Scripture Lesson Text: John 8:48-59
Related Scriptures: Exodus 3: 13-15, John 5:31-37, 7:16-18, 28-29 Revelation 1:5-8
Today’s lesson text captures the profound words spoken by Jesus Christ revealing His true identity. His claim to deity was confirmed with those powerful words ” I AM” as we read in vs 56 -58. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
In the related scriptures Exodus 3:13-15, we see a similar conversation God had with Moses confirming His identity as “I AM” in vs. 13-14. “Then Moses said to God, Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you; and they say to me, “What is his name? what shall I say to them?” “ And God said to Moses, ” I AM WHO I AM.” and he said, Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.”
John 5: 31-37 sheds the light on Jesus and the Father’s relationship. It identifies and verifies Jesus as the one sent by God the Father(vs. 36). ” But I have a greater witness than John’s: for the works for which the Father has given me to finish the very works that I do bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.” Revelation 1:5-8, our final scriptures, we grasp the infinite power of who Jesus is. “I am the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Synopsis
By Elder Janice Hall
These scriptures begin with the Saducees and the Pharisees feeling exasperated and frustrated with attempting to lash out at Jesus. They began to attack Him by name calling and accusing Him of being demonic and a Samaritan. Jesus’ desire was to be humble and honor His Father. Jesus promises eternal life to those who keep His word.
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed…” ( John 8:31b).
The claim of the religious leaders contrasted with claim of Jesus knowing God. Jesus was confident in knowing that God was truly His Father and led a life of true obedience to His word. The Pharisees had been challenging Jesus ever since He proclaimed in John 8:12, “ I am the light of the world.” Jesus also stated that not only was He greater than Abraham, but this was also acknowledged by Abraham himself. Jesus let the religious leaders know He was the eternal God existing not only during the time of Abraham but before unto eternity past.
In the statement, “ Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am”( John 8:58), the religious leaders regarded this as blasphemous and took up stones to kill Jesus. His words were a reminder of Exodus 3:14, when the name of God was given to Moses.
During the great Exodus, God was ever present and reminded the people of that fact, even though they were suffering. This was a clear declaration of His deity, denoting His absolute eternal self-existence.
Practical Application
By Sister Brittenne Boykin
John 8:49-58 captures an exchange between Jesus and the Jews with their attempt trying to engage Christ. Time after time this scene would play out as they tried to ascertain if Christ was indeed the Messiah or more to the point prove that He was not. The people once again too blinded to see what was right in front of them (vs. 49).
In today’s passage they have outright called him demon possessed for doing good. Christ uses this exchange to provide us a valuable lesson reminding us that who we are should glorify God (vs. 50). Christ unapologetically and authentically lived out who He was day in and day out!
We see in today’s lesson that this kind of living often causes the Christian to be misunderstood. Christ even faced death (vs. 59). The Jews viewed with much piety their lineage as the seed of Abraham. Christ boldly declares that before Abraham was He is (vs.58). He reminds us that through Him we are made new and adopted into a royal family, the family of God.
