OCTOBER 8, 2017
JESUS AND ABRAHAM
INTRODUCTION:
1. From the time that Jesus healed the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, the Jews were seeking the more to kill Him. (Ch. 5:18) For that reason He did not any longer walk in Jewry until He went up to the Feast of Tabernacles in secret. (Ch. 7:1, 10)
2. It is clear that in chapters 7 and 8 the Jew’s hatred became more intense.
a) When He declared Himself to be the Water of Life, they wanted nothing more than to take Him, but their efforts were frustrated for various reasons. (Ch. 7:33ff)
b) When He declared Himself to be the Light of the World, the forces of darkness declared all-out war against Him.
3. Anticipating the unbelief that would prevail in Judea at the end of chapter 8, (like unto that in Galilee at the end of chapter 6) Jesus pronounced severe judgment upon His unbelieving hearers.
a) They were not free, but rather slaves to their sin. (Verses 32-34)
b) They were not children of Abraham, because they believed not on Him. (Verses 39-41)
c) They were not sons of God, but in truth, were children of the devil. (Verses 41-44)
4. Jesus based these charges upon moral and spiritual realities, rather than ethnic origins and national history. (Verses 45-47)
5. Jesus, in His response to the Jew’s bitter attack, gave the highest affirmation of His divine preexistence. “Before Abraham was, I am.”
I. HERE WE HAVE THE CONCLUSION OF AN INTENSE SPIRITUAL BATTLE IN WHICH JESUS DEFENDS HIS HONOR AGAINST THE JEWS’ SEVEREST CHARGE YET. (VERSES 48-50)
A. THE JEWS HERE MAKE THEIR HARSHEST ATTACK YET BY CHARGING THAT JESUS IS DEMON POSSESSED AND AN ENEMY OF ISRAEL. (VERSE 48)
1. Jesus had just before this declared His heavenly origins and His oneness with the Father in His testimony, judgment, nature, and work.
2. Now, infuriated over His true statement regarding their paternity, (Verses 39, 42, 44) they charge Him with having a devil.
a) This was a renewal of a former allegation, when Jesus challenged their loyalty to Mosses and the Law. (Ch. 7:20)
b) Here His denial of their connection to Abraham and the Covenant was met with the same response.
3. They accuse Him of being a Samaritan, that is, an enemy of Israel; one who was ignorant of God’s Word and a blasphemer, and filled with hatred.
4. These harsh and severe charges were meant to denounce His claim that He was the Son of God.
B. JESUS RESPONDS TO THESE BLASPHEMOUS CHARGES WITH A PLAIN AND SIMPLE DEFENSE OF HIS HONOR AND PERSON. (VERSES 49, 50)
1. When reviled, He reviled not again. (I Pet. 2:23)
2. Jesus simply denies that He is possessed of a devil. “I have not a devil.”
3. Jesus denies that He has judged them in hatred. “…but I honor my Father.”
4. Indeed, the disrespect they had shown Him revealed they were the ones who had acted devilish. “…and ye do dishonor me.”
5. He denies seeking His own glory. (Verse 50a)
6. Jesus commits Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. (Verse 50b; I Pet. 2:23)
a) He who seeketh will found a new Israel. (Ch. 4:21-24; Rom. 9:6-8, 23, 24)
b) He who judgeth will cause Jerusalem’s fall and final judgment.
II. JESUS HERE GIVES HIS LAST TESTIMONY RESPECTING HIS OWN PERSON. (VERSES 51-59)
A. TO THOSE WHO ARE TRUE BELIEVERS JESUS GIVES A WONDERFUL PROMISE. (VERSES 51-53)
1. Although the objections voiced by many of “those Jews which believed on him” proved their faith invalid, Jesus knew that some among them were true believers. (Verse 31ff)
a) Some were keepers of His sayings whose faith stood the test. (Verse 31a)
b) They were therefore disciples indeed. (Verse 31b)
2. To these Jesus promises freedom from death.
a) They shall not die in their sins. (Verses 21, 24)
b) They shall not be cast out of the household as slaves. (Verse 35)
c) They shall be “free indeed.” (Verse 36)
3. The unbelieving Jews strenuously object to this precious promise to Christ’s true disciples. (Verses 52, 53)
a) They rightly understood this as a further claim of Jesus, that what He promises to His disciples, He must also possess Himself.
b) They knew that he was claiming for Himself that which, according to their understanding, Abraham and the prophets lacked, that is, freedom from death.
c) Actually, the death of which He spoke was not physical death.
(1) Neither He nor His disciples would escape physical death.
(2) Plus, Abraham and the prophets, through faith in Christ, also enjoyed freedom from death.
(3) His superior greatness to Abraham and the prophets would, however, be seen in that He would rise from the dead. (John 10:17, 18)
(4) In His bodily resurrection, He is the first fruits of all who are His; Abraham and the prophets included. (I Cor. 15:20-23; Matt. 22:31, 32; Psa. 17:15)
d) These unbelieving Jews, however, are not thinking in that realm, but their objection is simply that in this claim of never seeing death Jesus is making Himself greater than Abraham and the prophets. (Verse 53)
e) They therefore angrily ask, “Whom maketh thou thyself?” Just who are you claiming to be? (Verse 53c)
f) He will now answer that question, in words that leave no doubt as to Who He claims to be.
B. JESUS MAKES THE HIGHEST CLAIM FOR HIMSELF. (VERSES 54-58)
1. In this highest claim He is simply taking to Himself the honor which the Father gives Him. (Verse54)
2. They claim to have a relationship with the same God, yet their actions and treatment of Him put the lie to their profession.
a) Their professed knowledge of God was only an acquired knowledge. They did not know the Lord in personal relationship. “Ye have not known Him.”
b) Jesus’ knowledge of God is a direct intuitive knowledge.
c) Their knowledge of God is twisted, inaccurate – a lie.
d) There is a difference that is vital between knowing about God and knowing God.
e) All who truly know God will show honor to the Son. (John 5:23)
3. Abraham, who they proudly claimed as their father, rejoiced to see the advent of Christ. (Verse 56)
a) He rejoiced in the expectation of the coming of the promised hope.
b) He rejoiced to see Christ’s day, that is, the birth and life of Christ.
c) He saw Christ’s day.
(1) He saw it type and promise.
(2) He saw it through the eye of faith.
d) He was glad.
(1) His heart rejoiced at the promise, and he was made glad at the fulfillment.
(2) Abraham rejoiced (his heart leaped for joy, as it were) and he was glad (he was in a continuous state of joy).
4. The Jews’ objection brings an even grander declaration. (Verses 57, 58)
a) Their lack of understanding is quite remarkable. “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and has thou seen Abraham?”
b) Jesus’ powerfully declared His preexistence, based in His eternality.
(1) His declaration is preceded by a strong, solemn confirmation. “Verily, verily,” i.e. “Amen, amen!”
(2) “Before Abraham was…” i.e. before he had come into being.
(3) “I am.” (a mode of existence not subject to time or transition).
(4) Jesus here claims to be eternal in His Person (John 1:1, 14); He claims to be the Eternal God. (Exo. 3:14)
C. THE UNBELIEVING JEWS BECOME CONSUMED WITH WRATH BUT STILL UNABLE TO CARRY IT OUT. (VERSE 59)
1. Their anger becomes so great that they take up stones. Their intention is to execute Him.
2. Jesus, however, escapes from them.
a) First, He hides Himself, as any ordinary person might do.
b) But then, He simply passes through the midst of them, either by becoming invisible to them or somehow rendering them unable to harm Him. (See Luke 4:30)
3. We know from other failed plots against Jesus that the bottom line reason for their failure is that His hour was not yet come.
4. Jesus will know when His hour is come, at which time He will give Himself into their hands; and His death will not be by stoning, but they shall lift up the Son of man. (See Verse 28)
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