John 8:48–59 - 48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 “But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
What does today’s passage say?
In today's passage, the Jewish religious leaders attack Jesus, insulting Him by calling Him a demon-possessed Samaritan. Jesus calmly responds that He does not have a demon but instead brings honor to His Father, who will judge all things (vv. 48-50). Jesus then makes an extraordinary statement that anyone who follows His teaching will never experience death. The leaders react with outrage, pointing out that even Abraham and the prophets died, questioning if Jesus thinks He is greater than them (vv. 51-53). Jesus explains that His Father gives Him glory, and He knows God intimately while they do not. He stuns them by declaring that Abraham looked forward to seeing His day with joy. When they scoff at this claim, Jesus announces that before Abraham existed, "I AM" - using God's own name. The crowd tries to stone Him, but He walks away (vv. 54-59).
How can I apply John 8:48-59 to my life?
When Jesus declared His eternal existence as the great I AM, He made a radical claim that transformed how people should view Him. This confrontational interaction shows Jesus defending His identity against hostile attacks. The resulting crisis reveals key truths on which Christians must build their lives. Jesus does not shy away from pointing to Himself as the eternal God, the central object of our faith. As modern believers, we can find many parallels between the opposition Jesus faced and the criticism still directed at our faith today. Outsiders questioning our beliefs can leave us feeling shaken or defensive. However, Jesus’ responses model a confidence arising from a clear sense of identity rooted in following His Father’s will. We too must keep an eternal perspective amid temporary troubles. Jesus’ bold statements urge us to fully embrace His surpassing authority over life and death secured by the resurrection. And His insistence on His own eternal existence as I AM before Abraham calls for our worship of Him as the uncreated God who transcends all limits of time and space while choosing to meet us as a man. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
1. Stand Strong When Others Question Your Faith in Jesus (vv. 48-50): The religious leaders viciously attacked Jesus, hurling insults by calling Him demon-possessed and a Samaritan outcast. Being labeled and mocked for our faith hurts - sometimes deeply. Life throws hard situations at believers, especially when family or friends challenge our commitment to Jesus Christ. One day a coworker rolls their eyes at your faith. The next week, your classmate posts a social media rant against Christians. Even religious people might brand you as extreme or misguided because you take Jesus at His word. Your heart pounds, your mind races, and you feel the pressure to either lash back or stay quiet. But Jesus points to a radically different path forward. Rather than getting tangled up in self-defense, He kept His focus laser-straight on bringing glory to His Father. That same unshakeable purpose can steady us when criticism flies our way. God's approval matters infinitely more than winning arguments or gaining others' acceptance. Speaking truth with both backbone and grace marks the path Jesus walked. Every attack against our faith becomes a chance to display the reality of Jesus through our responses. Sometimes opposition hits like a hammer, but those very moments can drive our roots deeper into God's truth. The more others push against our faith, the more God can show His power through our steady trust in Him. Standing firm does not mean standing harsh - it means standing faithful while letting God's love shine through every challenge (1 Peter 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 5:11-12).
Food for Thought: What specific criticisms about your faith in Jesus have you faced from others? How can focusing on God's approval help you respond better to those who question your faith?
2. Accept Jesus Authority Over Death and Life (vv. 51-53): Jesus boldly declared His power over death by promising eternal life to those who follow Him. Death stands as the ultimate human fear - the final enemy that no amount of money, medicine, or determination can defeat. People spend fortunes trying to stay young, searching for ways to push back the shadows of mortality. Yet Jesus speaks with total authority about conquering death itself. His promise cuts through every dark question about what happens after our last breath. Following Jesus brings security in knowing our future is sealed beyond the grave. When illness strikes close to home or tragedy takes someone we love, this truth anchors our souls in hope. Jesus does not just offer good advice about living - He offers life itself, stretching into eternity. The religious leaders of His day could not grasp such an enormous claim. Their minds stayed stuck on Abraham's death, missing the revolutionary message that God Himself stood before them. Today, many people still trip over this same stumbling block. They want a Jesus who fits their expectations - a good teacher, a moral example, perhaps a miracle worker - but not the Lord of life and death. Yet Jesus calls us to stake everything on His promise. When fears about death creep in, we can rest in knowing that our times rest in His hands. Every funeral we attend, every news story about tragedy, every moment we feel our own mortality can point us back to Jesus' unshakeable promise. His authority over death changes how we view both life and eternity. Our present troubles shrink when measured against His guarantee of endless life with Him (Revelation 1:17-18; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; John 11:25-26).
Food for Thought: How does knowing Jesus has authority over death affect your daily choices and priorities? What specific fears about death has Jesus' promise of eternal life helped you overcome?
3. Worship Jesus as the Eternal I AM Who Existed Before Creation (vv. 54-59): Jesus shocked His audience by declaring His eternal existence before Abraham using the divine name "I AM." The truth of Jesus' eternal nature changes everything about how we live right now. His claim to be the eternal God in human form stands as the bedrock of our faith and transforms our daily walk with Him. So many people try to squeeze Jesus into their own little box of understanding, making Him just another religious leader or wise teacher. But Jesus breaks every human box with His clear statement of deity. This means the One we follow exists outside time itself - the same Jesus we pray to today walked with Adam in Eden and spoke the universe into being. Such an amazing truth should fill us with wonder and drive us to worship. Living with this reality means bringing our everyday choices before an eternal God who sees the full picture of time. His wisdom spans all ages, His power created galaxies, and His love chose to enter our world to save us. When troubles hit hard, we can take comfort knowing our lives rest in the hands of the One who exists from eternity past to eternity future. Our problems might feel huge today, but they shrink when we see them through the lens of Jesus' eternal nature. Good times and bad times both bow before His unchanging power. Knowing Jesus as the eternal I AM lifts our eyes above temporary struggles to see His bigger purpose. Our limited minds cannot fully grasp how Jesus could exist before Abraham, but faith accepts what human reasoning struggles to understand. This truth calls us to live with eternal perspective, making choices that matter beyond just today or tomorrow. Following the eternal Christ means our lives connect to something far bigger than ourselves - we serve the God who was, and is, and is to come (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:8).
Food for Thought: What difference does it make in your daily life to know that Jesus is the eternal God who has always existed? How should believing in Jesus' eternal nature affect the way you handle your current situations?
Living in light of Jesus' eternal nature transforms our daily walk as believers. When coworkers mock our faith, we can respond with steady confidence because we know Who stands with us. Each morning brings new opportunities to trust His authority over life and death. Every challenge becomes a chance to demonstrate that our hope rests on more than just human wisdom or religious traditions. The same Jesus who declared "Before Abraham was born, I AM" walks with us through today's struggles. His eternal power gives weight to His promises. His divine nature guarantees His ability to keep every word. The religious leaders picked up stones to throw at Jesus because they understood exactly what He claimed - to be God Himself. Their violent reaction shows the radical nature of believing in Jesus as the eternal Son of God. Today, this passage calls us to examine our own response to Jesus' claims. True faith moves beyond just agreeing with facts about Jesus to building our entire lives on His unchanging nature. Our eternal God deserves nothing less than our complete trust and wholehearted worship. These verses push us past comfortable religion into dynamic relationship with the living Christ who gives eternal life.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would give me unwavering strength when others question or attack my faith in Jesus. Help me stay focused on Your approval instead of seeking acceptance from those who oppose You. I pray that You would fill me with Your peace when criticism comes, enabling me to respond with both truth and grace.
I pray that You would deepen my trust in Jesus' authority over death and life. When fears about death surface or when loss touches my life, help me hold firmly to Your promise of eternal life. Let this truth shape my priorities and decisions each day.
I pray that You would open my eyes to see Jesus in His full glory as the eternal I AM. Thank You that He exists beyond all time yet chose to enter our world to save us. I pray that You would help me live with an eternal perspective, making choices that matter for eternity. When daily pressures and problems feel overwhelming, I pray that You would lift my eyes to see Jesus' unchanging power and authority over everything in my life.
Thank You that Jesus stands firm in His identity and truth even when facing hostile opposition. Help me follow His example of unshakeable faith and dedication to Your glory above all else.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
With His Blessings,
Pastor Corby
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