John 8:51-59 (WEL) “Very truly, I say to you, ‘If any obeys my word, he will never see death forever.’” 52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead as well as the prophets, and you say, ‘If any obeys my word, he will never experience death.’ 53 “Surely, you are not greater than Abraham, who died, and the prophets who died. Who do you make yourselves to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my Father who honors me, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 “Yet you do not know him. If I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar, like you. But I do know him and comply with his word. 56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day, and he did see it and rejoiced.” 57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I say to you, ‘Before Abraham existed, I Am.’” 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus concealed himself and left the Temple by going through the midst of them and so passed by.
V51“Very truly, I say to you, ‘If any obeys my word, he will never see death forever.’”
What is this word/law that they must obey? It is the Gospel of Jesus (Romans 10:16, John 3:36, and 2 Thessalonians 1:8)—believe in me, call on my name, and you will be saved from God’s wrath, have forgiveness of sins, and have a new birth (2 Corinthians 5:17). Any other Gospel is emptiness and false.
V52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham is dead as well as the prophets, and you say, ‘If any obeys my word, he will never experience death.’
They didn’t hear a word that Jesus said. They are fixated on other thoughts, namely that Jesus is demon-possessed. Eternal life is taught in the Old Testament (Daniel 12:2, Psalm 49:15, and Psalm 73:24). These people are so spiritually blind and deaf. Everlasting punishment is also taught in the Old Testament (Daniel 12:2 and Isaiah 66:24). They are blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) and want to be blind. They suppress the truth because they do not want a truth that exposes their sins (John 3:19 and Romans 1:18).
God blinds for punishment for the sins of unbelief, disobedience, pride, love of sin, etc. (Matthew 13:14-15).
Satan blinds to prevent belief by distortion and other types of lies, pride, love of sin, etc. (2 Corinthians 4:4).
These people have no excuse to reject the teaching of Jesus Christ. All they understand is things of this life instead of eternal life.
V53 “Surely, you are not greater than Abraham, who died, and the prophets who died. Who do you make yourselves to be?”
Jesus is greater than Abraham and the prophets. He is also greater than the holy angels. See Hebrews 3:1-6 and Hebrews 1:4-8.
Jesus has been telling them from the beginning of His ministry, in words, deeds, and fulfilled prophecy.
54 Jesus answered, “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing. It is my Father who honors me, of whom you say that he is your God.
Jesus is honored by the Father (Mark 1:11).
Principle: Don’t seek your own glory or accept praise from others. Glorify God only. Let God honor us for all we do and say; we are to honor the Father. See Luke 14:7-11.
They claim to worship the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, but they do not. Jesus exposes their sin. Compare Isaiah 29:13.
55 “Yet you do not know him. If I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar, like you. But I do know him and comply with his word.
If they know their God, they would recognize who Jesus is. If Jesus were to say that He does not know God, then He would be a liar. Then again, He declares them to be liars. Jesus also states that He does know God and complies with His word. The Greek word for comply is G5083 τηρέω tēreō, which means:
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)): A common thought is that of observing and keeping commandments, etc.; cf. Matthew 19:17; Acts 15:5; John 9:16 (the Sabbath); Matthew 23:3 (scribal teaching); James 2:10 (the royal law); Matthew 28:20 (Jesus’ teaching); John 14:15 (Jesus’ commandments). The expressions used relative to Christians suggest the existence of a catechetical tradition. This goes back to the teaching of Jesus himself, so that keeping his commands is the same as keeping his word (John 14:23-24). The disciples pass on this word of revelation with a summons to faith and obedience (John 15:20), and keeping it means eternal life (John 8:51-52). Similar thoughts occur in 1 John 2:3, 4; Revelation 12:17. The Christian life as a fulfilling of God’s will is both a prerequisite of answers to prayer and a result of the Spirit’s working (1 John 3:22, 24). Love for God finds expression in love for others and keeping the commandments (1 John 5:2-3).”
In summary, Jesus states that He knows God and obeys His commands and wishes. It is a sign that He does. Contrast these Jews’ attitude in the next verse.
56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day, and he did see it and rejoiced.”
Many interpret “my day” as referring to the resurrection or incarnation, but I believe it refers to the two ministries of Jesus Christ: 1) the suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53) and 2) as the King Messiah (Zechariah 14).
Abraham rejoiced because Messiah was coming first to deal with sin and then to deal with the need for good leadership.
57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?”
Again these people refuse to believe. Jesus is Messiah, thus, He has always existed.
Note how they twist Jesus’s words. He did not say that He had seen Abraham. Jesus said that Abraham saw (as a prophet sees) Jesus’s day (the time when Messiah would come and His ministry).
58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I say to you, ‘Before Abraham existed, I Am.’”
Jesus is very clear that He is eternal and the I AM (Exodus 3:14 and Isaiah 43:10-13).
Note Jesus states “before Abraham existed or brought into being,” and Jesus states that He is the eternal “I AM (Exodus 3:14).”
59 Then they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the Temple by going through the midst of them and so passed by.
They wanted to kill Him. Jesus presented the facts; they rejected the facts. Jesus met His Father’s standards; these Jews met their father’s (devil) standards, yet thinking they are doing God’s service.
Principle: Know what the truth (Scripture) is and believe it in its plain, normal sense.
We learn:
- Jesus is Messiah.
- The people are of the devil instead of God’s people.
- How to know the difference.
Questions:
- What is your highest authority—the Bible or something else be it science, reason, philosophy, a teacher, etc.?
- Whose laws and ways do you follow?