John 8:48-59
Jesus' Claims About Himself
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.
Jesus throughout the four gospels makes interesting claims and comments about Himself...Most of the Jewish officials did not believe Him and what He said...One day when He was with several Jews they called Him a Samaritan...And they said He had a demon from the darkside in Him that was making Him crazy...Jesus told them the He had no demon in Him and that the darkness was not around Him...Jesus gave and gives honor to His Father...But the Jews gave Jesus no honor...Jesus, while on earth, was not trying to honor Himself, but was trying to honor His Father our God and their God...God is our Judge...And Jesus told the Jews that if they would obey His teachings they would never die...The Jews said to Jesus that they believed He had a demon inside Him, after hearing this...Even Abraham and the prophets died...But Jesus said that whoever obeys His teaching would never die...They ask Him if He thought He was greater than their father Abraham...Abraham did died, and so did the prophets...So they ask Him, who He thought He was...Jesus said that He does not give honor to Himself, that honor is worth nothing...The One who gives Him honor is His Father...Honor from the Father is everything...And the Jewish crowd did not understand what Jesus was saying about God...Jesus said that they really did not know God, His Father...But Jesus said that He knows Him... If Jesus said that He didn't know God then He would be a liar...Jesus said He does know God and what He says...Their father Abraham was very happy that He would see the day when Jesus came...Abraham saw that day and was happy...The Jews said to Jesus, “What?...How can you say you have seen Abraham?...Jesus was not even close to being fifty years old...Jesus said that the fact is that before Abraham was born, I Am....So Jesus is and was before Abraham...So when Jesus said these things the Jews picked up stones to throw at Him....But Jesus hid, and then he left the Temple area...It was like Jesus could step away at anytime, and move in and out of our time...