THE CLAIMS OF JESUS ABOUT HIMSELF

John 8:48-59

48 The Jews answered Him,

'Aren't we right in saying that You are as Samaritan

And demon possessed?'

49 'I am not possessed by a demon,' said Jesus,

'But I honor My Father and you dishonor Me.

50 I am not seeking Glory for My self;

But there is One Who seeks it,

And He is the Judge.

51 I TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

IF A MAN KEEPS MY WORD,

HE WILL NEVER SEE DEATH.'

52 At this the Jews exclaimed,

'Now we know that You are demon-possessed!

Abraham died and so did the Prophets,

Yet You say that if a man keeps Your Word,

He will never taste Death.

53 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 CALIM AS YOUR GOD,

IS THE ONE WHO GLORIFIES ME.

55 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 keep His Word.

56 YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM REJOICED

AT THE THOUGH OF SEEING MY DAY;

HE SAW IT AND WAS GLAD.'

57 'You are not yet fifty years old,' the Jews said to Him,

'And You have seen Abraham!'

58 'I TELL YOU THE TRUTH,' Jesus answered,

'BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM!'

59 At this, they picked up stones to stone Him,

But Jesus hid Himself,

Slipping away from the Temple grounds.

(John 8:48-59)

So the Unbelief of the Jews persists.

Those who claim to honor the Father

Also honor the Son.

Jesus tells them

That the one who keeps His Word will never Die.

Jesus emphasizes

The ultimate importance of keeping His Word;

His Word that is so Maligned today

By American Culture.

It is God Himself Who glorified Christ Jesus,

Making it plain that He was from God.

Jesus tells the Jews that He was before Abraham

And that Abraham rejoiced

At seeing The Day Of Christ;

That Jesus was in Existence

before Abraham was born,

As the Eternal God of Creation.

For this statement the Jews would have stoned Jesus

But He slipped away from them.

Today, Jesus would be stoned

By those who disregard His Word.

Today, those who hold to His Word

Are Maligned by the Culture.

'What has been will be again,

What has been done will be done again;

There is Nothing New under the sun.'

(Ecclesiastes 1:9)