Jesus recognizes their Jewish heritage (8:37), but reveals that being a descendant of Abraham does not have the power to bring salvation because they are still slaves to sin. If they were related (spiritually through faith) to Abraham, their works would demonstrate that truth (8:38-39). Many Jews evidenced their disobedience to God by attempting to kill His Son (8:40) proving that they were still being controlled by their father, the devil (8:41-44). Jesus was teaching a very simple concept here: those who believed in Jesus would obey God’s word and those who rejected Jesus would do the evil works of their father, the devil. So, faith leads to obedience and obedience leads to freedom and freedom leads to good works (8:45-47).
The Jews accused Jesus again of being demon-possessed (7:20; 8:48) because some did not believe what He was saying, but Jesus affirmed that He was telling the truth (8:49-50). Jesus’ next words caused the Jews to really question His sanity,”Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death” (8:51). The Jews only understood Jesus’ saying in a literal way and could not grasp the concept of life beyond death. They point to Abraham and the prophets, who were dead, saying, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” (8:52-53). Jesus did not come to proclaim Himself as greater than anyone, but only to do the will of His Father who had sent Him (8:54-55). Jesus had best communicated God’s will for Him when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Jesus then revealed more truth to them saying that Abraham looked forward to His day (8:56), knowing that God had promised a Deliverer from sin for all the world (Genesis 12:3); however, the Jews could not understand how Jesus, who was not even fifty years old, could have had any contact with Abraham (8:57). Jesus responds with one of the clearest statements of His eternality and deity, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (8:58). Jesus was declaring that He was God and therefore greater than Abraham and the prophets. Because of Jesus’ claim, the Jews attempted to stone Him, but Jesus “hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (8:59). Jesus’ escape was probably through some supernatural means. No matter what the Jews believed, Jesus is God and the One sent by the Father to provide eternal life to all those who would believe.
Dear God, thank You for providing eternal life through Jesus.
