The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death—ever.” The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death—ever.’ Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not known Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
John 8:48-59
Introduction
Another famous passage, if not for the lessons Jesus teaches to the Pharisees, then for the proof it offers of His claim to divinity. Our faith hinges on the truth found in scripture that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. Only One who is fully God can live the perfect life in complete and total obedience to the Law, because only God is perfect (Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 18:30). And only One who is fully man can represent mankind before the throne room, offering Himself as the substitute for many (1 Corinthians 15:22).
And this section of Jesus’ discourse with the Pharisees exemplifies both of these truths. They rightly point out that He was “not yet fifty years old,” clearly demonstrating His humanity. Yet the words of Christ reflect His divine nature.
I do not seek My glory
One objection I have seen a lot to the God of the Bible is that He does things for His own glory. The objector will say that a God who calls us to be humble would be humble, Himself. And that a God who considers it virtuous to extol others would, Himself, extol others. That is one reason why the doctrine of the Trinity is so necessary to the faith. God glorifying Himself isn’t quite so simple as a singular person offering praise inwardly.
Instead, for all eternity, the Father glorified the Son, the Son praised the Father, and the Spirit the same. When the Father spoke the universe into existence, the Godhead replied by stating “it was good” (Genesis 1:4). And when the Spirit gave life to Adam (Genesis 2:7), the Godhead said it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). This selfless glorification of the other members of the Trinity has never ceased. It is a beautiful image of God’s intention for creation, and it speaks to how highly the Lord values these traits in His image bearers.
This passage from John tells us that Jesus does not seek His own glory, “but there is One who seeks and judges.” We learn from the Lord’s own mouth that His faithfulness earns the praise of the Father. And we also learn that in His words are found the key to eternal life.
Before Abraham was…
Knowing Jesus to be a man, the Pharisees scoff at Him. This man isn’t even the most aged among that crowd, let alone one who could have given life to Abraham. But then comes the bombshell: “before Abraham was, I Am.” In this simple (but not exclusive) invocation of the explanation of the divine name God gave to Moses (Exodus 3:14), Jesus not only makes Himself out to be God, but even does so with exclusivity by repeating the phrase given in Isaiah 43:10.
That is why the people picked up rocks to stone Him. It is one thing to claim to be a prophet. It is another thing entirely to claim to be God. Unlike the eastern monistic religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, the religion of the Bible considers God to be completely and utterly unique, separate from His creation in every way. If this is so, then anyone who lives as part of creation claiming to be God would necessarily be guilty of blasphemy. Unless, of course, God chose to enter into His creation to redeem a people for Himself.
And that is exactly what the Son did. This notion is both offensive and absurd to a rationally thinking unbeliever. That is why they recoil when they hear the truth. They scoff and belittle you for believing this simple truth found in scripture. Do not be surprised when this happens, but embrace it knowing they did the very same to the Lord, Himself.
May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.
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