The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 8:58,
"'Very truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I AM!'"
Jesus was asked, "Who are you?" by the Jews, verse 25. In the exchange that followed, Jesus told them, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." Verse 56. In that Abraham lived 2 millenia before the birth of Jesus Christ, they found this an outrage, "'You are not yet fifty years old,' they said to him, 'and you have seen Abraham!'" Verse 57.
To this, Jesus said what he did in verse 58, that prompted them to attempt to kill him on the spot, "before Abraham was born, I AM!" The passage tells us, "At this, they picked up stones to stone him..." Verse 59. You will have to read the account to find out what happens next.
Jesus' statement was a claim of existence prior to that of Abraham, that he was eternally self-existent. Beyond that, it suddenly became crystal clear to them that Jesus was claiming to be the very God they claimed to worship.
We read in Exodus 3:14, when Moses asked God what his name was to tell the Israelites, God told him, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God went on to tell Moses to tell the Israelites, "This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." Exodus 3:15. God's name is I AM.
It is astonishing to hear some say that Jesus Christ never claimed to be God. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Here are some of my favorite passages about Jesus Christ:
"In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:1-3.
"The Son [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:15-20.
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son [Jesus Christ], whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." Hebrews 1:1-4
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"'Very truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I AM!'"
Jesus was asked, "Who are you?" by the Jews, verse 25. In the exchange that followed, Jesus told them, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." Verse 56. In that Abraham lived 2 millenia before the birth of Jesus Christ, they found this an outrage, "'You are not yet fifty years old,' they said to him, 'and you have seen Abraham!'" Verse 57.
To this, Jesus said what he did in verse 58, that prompted them to attempt to kill him on the spot, "before Abraham was born, I AM!" The passage tells us, "At this, they picked up stones to stone him..." Verse 59. You will have to read the account to find out what happens next.
Jesus' statement was a claim of existence prior to that of Abraham, that he was eternally self-existent. Beyond that, it suddenly became crystal clear to them that Jesus was claiming to be the very God they claimed to worship.
We read in Exodus 3:14, when Moses asked God what his name was to tell the Israelites, God told him, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God went on to tell Moses to tell the Israelites, "This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." Exodus 3:15. God's name is I AM.
It is astonishing to hear some say that Jesus Christ never claimed to be God. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Here are some of my favorite passages about Jesus Christ:
"In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1:1-3.
"The Son [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:15-20.
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son [Jesus Christ], whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." Hebrews 1:1-4
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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