Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be,
I AM.”
(John 8:58)
Jesus is God. The promise of eternal life comes through faith in Jesus and obedience to His teachings. It is important to have a personal relationship with God rather than just following religious rituals or traditions. Speaking the truth can often lead to persecution. This is the cost of discipleship and the challenges that we might face while standing up for the truth.
In the realm of faith where love is our rod,
Echoes the truth, resounding, "Jesus is God."
The promise of life, eternal and free,
Comes through faith in Him, for you and for me.
Obedience to His teachings, a path we tread,
In His footsteps, by His wisdom we're led.
More than rituals or traditions of the hand,
A personal relationship with God, we understand.
Speaking the truth, a task not light,
Often leads to persecution, to a challenging fight.
Yet, this is the cost, the discipleship's price,
In the face of adversity, His love will suffice.
So, stand up for truth, let your voice be heard,
Remember, you're guided by His Word.
Though challenges may come, in His strength, we're bold,
For we are part of His eternal fold.
Dear Lord Jesus,
We come before You, acknowledging Your divinity. You are God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. We believe in Your promise of eternal life that comes through faith in You and obedience to Your teachings.
We understand the importance of having a personal relationship with You, Lord. We seek to know You more each day, not just through religious rituals or traditions, but through a genuine connection with You. We desire to experience Your presence in our lives, to hear Your voice, and to follow Your guidance.
Lord, we know that speaking the truth can often lead to persecution. We recognize that standing up for the truth is a part of our discipleship. We pray for Your strength and courage as we face these challenges. Help us to stand firm in our faith, to hold on to Your promises, and to trust in Your unfailing love.
We commit ourselves to You, Lord. We choose to follow You, to keep Your word, and to live according to Your will. We pray that our lives will glorify You and reflect Your love to the world.
In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Book of Signs
JESUS AND ABRAHAM
John 8:51-59
Gospel Acclamation
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Gospel | John 8:51-59
51 Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 52 So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you—a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I Am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
Background:
This is a significant moment in the New Testament where Jesus is in dialogue with the Jews.
In this passage, Jesus makes a profound statement: “Whoever keeps my word will never see death.” This confuses the Jews, who point out that even Abraham and the prophets died. They question Jesus’ identity and His authority to make such a claim.
Jesus responds by saying that His glory comes from God, whom He knows. He further states that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. This statement further confuses the Jews, who point out that Jesus is not yet fifty years old and question how He could have seen Abraham.
Jesus responds with a profound declaration of His divinity: “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” This statement is significant because “I AM” is the name God used to identify Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). By using this name, Jesus is claiming to be God, which is why the Jews picked up stones to throw at Him.
This passage highlights Jesus’ divinity, His eternal existence, and the promise of eternal life to those who keep His word.
Learning Lessons:
The passage John 8:51-59 from the Bible offers several lessons:
Eternal Life through Jesus: Jesus promises that whoever keeps His word will never see death. This teaches us about the promise of eternal life that comes through faith in Jesus and obedience to His teachings.
Jesus’ Divinity: Jesus’ statement “Before Abraham came to be, I AM” is a direct claim to divinity. This teaches us about Jesus’ identity as God, which is a central belief in Christianity.
The Importance of Knowing God: Jesus emphasizes the importance of truly knowing God. He criticizes the Jews for not knowing God despite claiming to be His followers. This teaches us about the importance of having a personal relationship with God rather than just following religious rituals or traditions.
Persecution for Truth: The Jews’ reaction to Jesus’ words shows that speaking the truth can often lead to persecution.
This teaches us about the cost of discipleship and the challenges that one might face while standing up for the truth.
The Jews just do not get it. Jesus has been telling them for years that His mission is one that brings the gift of new life to the People of God. God is a God of the living, not the dead. Let us listen closely to this message so that we will never forget it. We need to keep our focus right or the devil will have an easy task deflecting us from the truth of God’s love and His will for our lives.
We cannot save ourselves or anyone else. We can only do what Jesus asks us to do and let Him be the Savior. Selfishness is the death of the Gospel. The world will be changed by people who turn up to change it, not by those who shrink into the background for fear of making a mistake.
Published:
March 21, 2024, 6:37 AM
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot
