John 8:45-59 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” 48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
The Lord Jesus told the truth to the Jews and performed many miracles. The Jews did not believe that he was the Christ and even wanted to kill Him. The Lord Jesus said that because they did not belong to God and therefore did not listen to God’s words, the Jews said that he was a Samaritan and was possessed by a demon. Saying that he was a Samaritan means that he was an enemy of the Israelites, at that time there was no association between the Jews and the Samaritans. To say that a man of God is demon-possessed is a great sin, a sin of blasphemy. The Lord Jesus glorified God and did not seek his own glory, God the Father glorified him, but the Jews dishonored him because they did not know God and had no good relationship with God. The Lord Jesus emphasized that if people keep His word, they will never see death. The Jews thought he referred to the physical death, just like Abraham and all the prophets died. The Lord Jesus here was talking about the eternal life, that is, living forever, will not experience the second death, that is, the death of the soul. The Jews said, “Are you greater than our father Abraham?” The Lord Jesus was indeed greater than Abraham, and he said “before Abraham was born, I am!”, that is he exists before Abraham was born. He is the Son of God, who came down from heaven as a man, and is the Word manifested in the flesh. I hope that more people will come to know God, know the Son of God, and glorify him. To glorify the Son of God is to glorify God.
May God bless you and your family. 🙏😀
