Who Is Jesus?Sample

In John 8, Jesus confronts the Jews regarding identity—both His and theirs. The Jews claim that Abraham is their father, finding security in the fact that they are descendants of Abraham. Although they are descendants of Abraham, they do not receive the truth Jesus tells them, leading Jesus to state that their father is the devil, who is the father of lies. 

For the Jews, this was a great insult. In return, they tell Jesus that He is a Samaritan and is possessed by a demon. Jesus denies being possessed. In John 8:53 the Jews ask Jesus whether He is greater than their father Abraham. The chapter ends with Jesus slipping away after saying, “…before Abraham was, I am.”

REFLECTION: How do you understand the words of Jesus, “before Abraham was, I am.”? John 8:58.

Although Jesus was born in the flesh at a particular time in history at a specific geographical area, He existed before His birth on earth. For Jesus to have been the “firstborn of creation", He had to have existed at the very beginning of time and creation, making Him far older than Abraham. 

REFLECTION: What have you learned from today’s devotion and how does it influence your view of Jesus, if at all?