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As we continue this series, I encourage you to begin by reading the entire passage of John 8:31-58. For brevity, I’ve selected some specific points below.
John 8:31 – 33 -Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”, their response was – “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone”. Not only where they in bondage to Rome, Jesus reminds them that whoever commits a sin, is a slave (bondage) to sin, but that it is the Son (Jesus) who can make us free. Further in the passage we read the Jews telling Jesus He has a demon! (verse 48 & 52) Jesus continues to speak truth to them, regardless of their dishonor of Him and God as they challenge His relationship to the Father. The Jews questioned Jesus who said that Abraham rejoiced at the day of Jesus. When they questioned Jesus because he was not yet 50 years old, He Jesus tells them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
This statement was significant to those ‘Jews who believed Jesus’ because Jesus was saying, I AM God. The Jews knew the story of Moses we now read in Exodus 3. Moses was attending his father-in-law’s flock and an angel of the Lord appeared in a flame of fire in the midst of a bush. After looking and seeing the bush was not consumed, he turned and heard God call from the bush and said, “Moses, Moses” and Moses said, “Here I am”. God then tells Moses to remove his sandals because he was standing on Holy Ground. Next, God says, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God because the Jews knew that if they looked on the face of God they would die (see Exodus 33:20).
It is at this point that God sends Moses to Pharoah to bring His people who are oppressed out of Egypt. Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”
So, when we see Jesus telling the ‘Jews who believed Him’ (John 8:58), that ‘before Abraham was, I AM, He is declaring to the Jews He is God.
Who is Jesus to you?
Who is Jesus to you? Do you see Him as God, and before the foundation of the world before Abraham? He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 tells us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. It doesn’t matter what circumstance you are facing – the great I AM is there with you. He was I AM yesterday; He will be I AM tomorrow. He is always your very present help in time of need.
Reflect today on the fact that before anything He Is. He is before any situation and He is aware of every detail. You are not forgotten, you are not alone, you don’t have to figure it out yourself. Call upon His name and He will guide you through.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I come to you today, in thanks that before I was You Are. You are the God of my yesterday, today and forever. Thank you for helping me to put my trust in You, to know that you provide everything I have need of. Help to hear you clearly as You speak to me and guide me so that I may bring glory and honor to your name. Amen.
