"Truly, Truly,"

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58 ESV)

In John chapter 8, Jesus is the subject of a pseudo-trial in which the Pharisees try to disprove, humiliate, and trick Jesus into making a statement for which they could put Him to death. Unfortunately for them, the truth of Christ leads to a turning of the trial in which Jesus convicts the Pharisees for who they truly are, liars and false teachers, for they have made what was Judaism given by God, into something all about them.

Jesus, in this statement, is answering a question asked by the Pharisees: “So the Jews said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”(v. 57) In Hebrew, when something is very important, it is repeated two times; in this case, the word truly. Jesus is essentially saying Here is the truth; the truth you cannot handle, understand, or accept because of your hardened hearts. Jesus has been revealing who He is to Israel since the beginning of His ministry. John the Baptist told everyone without hesitation that Jesus was the Messiah, and yet most refused Him.

In this, the 8^th chapter of John, Jesus yet again tells them, “I AM” the Son of God. Having told the Jews that anyone who believes in Him as the Messiah will never taste death, they replied: “The Jews said to him, 'Now we know that you have a demon! '  Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Ultimately, Christ spoke today's verse and, in doing so, set in motion what would lead to His crucifixion and death. “Before Abraham was, I am.” This statement in the Greek is called “ego imi,” meaning I am, or I exist.

Jesus could have used any words to relay this truth: “before Abraham was, I existed, I lived, I was with the Father, and so on. However, Jesus chose two words. Two words that harken back to Moses on Sinai to whom the Jews but all their faith and belief, “I AM.” “God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘ I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14). God used these two words throughout the Old Testament. Jesus had also used “I AM” throughout the New Testament: I am the good shepherd (John 10:11), I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), I am the bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51), and far more statements as well. Yet this time, they understood He was saying He was eternal, He was God. That Jesus lived before Abraham and that Abraham knew Him, who He was, and rejoiced in His incarnation.

For this, the Jews moved forward with their plans to murder Jesus. In their lack of understanding, they failed to see that Jesus orchestrated this encounter. That it was He who decided the time was now to make the statement, “I AM.” Jesus, even in the incarnation, was and is God; He controlled everything. Jesus told us, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18)

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus, who is fully God, came in the incarnation. He willingly laid down His life on the cross so that He alone could bear the sins of humanity. Those who believe in Him have eternal life, never to be plucked from the hand of God ever again.

Jesus died a human death and rose again. The resurrection tells us that not only could He live again eternally, but that, as God, He could save those who believe in Him and repent of their sins, turning to Him for salvation as well. Two words led to the death of God, His resurrection, and life eternal for all believers.

Do you know Christ as your Savior? Have you placed your faith in Him, receiving eternal life as a reconciled child of God? If you have questions or need direction, please reach out to us here at In Messiah. We can tell you of the scriptures that also reveal and solidify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that salvation comes through faith in Him alone.

Grace and Peace.