Divinity of Jesus - Week 3
- Apr 27
- 8 min read
There is a massive difference between someone who says, 'I have the answers,' and someone who says, 'I am the answer.' The religious leaders in John 8 were kind of “ok’ish” with Jesus as a local teacher, but they were ready to riot the moment He claimed to be Eternal. Today, we’re looking at an 'I Am' statement—the one that forced everyone in the room to decide if Jesus was a madman or their Master.
All right. Open your Bibles or your Bible app to John chapter 8, verse 48. We are on week three of The Divinity of Jesus.
Our first week we started in John 1 with the big picture - the eternal Word who became flesh, the light coming into the world. Last week we examined the truth that Jesus is the Bread of Life and He came to meet a hunger that is eternal. Today we are jumping to John chapter 8 - and things are getting a little more intense.
Here is the setup. Jesus has been teaching in the temple courts in Jerusalem. The religious leaders - the Pharisees - have had enough. They are pushing back hard. And this conversation is going to end with them picking up rocks.
Now before you think that is just a first-century thing - people in every era have a hard time with what Jesus is about to say. Because He is not just claiming to be a wise teacher. He is about to say something that is either the most important truth ever spoken, or the greatest “offense” ever uttered to these in fancy robes.
Let’s get into it.
1. THE DISPUTE ABOUT JESUS’ AUTHORITY (vv. 48-53) John 8:48-53
"The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying 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. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”"
They are calling Jesus a Samaritan - an insult about His identity and heritage. They are accusing Him of having a demon. And they are pushing back hard on the claim that keeping His word means never seeing death.
But look at how Jesus responds. He does not get defensive. He does not back down. He just tells the truth. He says - I am not seeking my own glory. There is One who seeks it. And the implications of that are enormous.
Because if His glory comes from the Father, then attacking Jesus is attacking the Father. And that question - Who do You make Yourself out to be? - is the most important question any of us can ask. Jesus is about to answer it.
EXEGESIS
The Insult: When they call Him a “Samaritan,” they are not just being racist - they are legally and religiously removing His platform. In their eyes, a Samaritan had no right to interpret the Torah. They are trying to strip Jesus of His Jewish authority.
The “Demon” Defense: Notice that they call Him demon-possessed right after He mentions death. In the ancient mind, only a madman or a sorcerer would claim power over the grave.
The Word “Keep” (tereo): This is not just about obeying rules. The Greek word means to guard, protect, or treasure. Jesus is not saying, “If you follow my ten steps, you won’t die.” He is saying, “If you guard My identity in your heart, death loses its grip.”
The Abraham Connection: They ask, “Are you greater than Abraham?” This is the ultimate “Who do you think you are?” moment. They are looking at history; Jesus is looking at eternity.
APPLICATION
Stop the Defensive Reflex: When someone attacks your character or your faith this week, don’t rush to clap back. Ask yourself: Am I seeking my own glory or the Father’s? If God is the Judge, you don’t have to be the lawyer.
Engage the “Abraham” Questions: Identify the Abrahams in your life - the old traditions or past successes you rely on for security. Ask yourself, Is Jesus bigger than this for me today?
2. JESUS’ CLAIM OF ETERNAL EXISTENCE (vv. 54-58) John 8:54-58
"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.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. 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.”"
Here is where it gets wild. Jesus says Abraham rejoiced to see His day. The crowd is confused - You are not even fifty years old. How could You have seen Abraham? Abraham lived almost two thousand years before this conversation.
And Jesus gives one of the most stunning statements in all of Scripture: “Before Abraham was, I am.”
Not I was. Not I existed before Abraham. He says I am. Present tense. Eternal, ever-present existence.
And every Jewish person in that crowd knew exactly what He was saying. Because I AM - in Hebrew, YHWH - is the name God gave Himself when Moses asked at the burning bush. Tell them I AM sent you. That is the personal, divine name of God. So holy they would not even say it out loud.
And Jesus just claimed it. Right there in the temple.
This is not a claim to be a great man. This is not a claim to be a prophet. This is Jesus saying - I am Yahweh. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I am the I AM.
Jesus did not say “I was.” He said “I am.” He is not a historical figure. He is a present reality.
EXEGESIS
The Contrast of Verbs: In the Greek text, Jesus uses two different verbs for being. When He speaks of Abraham, He uses genesthai - to become or to come into existence. But when He speaks of Himself, He uses eimi - to be. He is contrasting a creature who had a beginning with a Creator who simply is.
The “Rejoicing” of Abraham: Jewish tradition held that when God made the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, He gave Abraham a vision of the entire history of his descendants - culminating in the Messiah. Jesus is claiming to be the actual fulfillment of the vision that sustained Abraham’s faith.
The Father’s Validation: In verse 54, Jesus says, “It is my Father who glorifies me.” This is a legal argument. Under Jewish law, a person’s testimony about themselves was invalid. Jesus is saying, I’m not My own character witness; the One you claim to worship is the One providing the evidence for Me.
APPLICATION
Stop Trying to “Update” God: We often try to make Jesus fit our modern cultural moment, but Jesus tells the crowd He is the architect of their day. Ask yourself: Where am I trying to make Jesus follow my lead, instead of acknowledging that He predates and outlasts my current crisis?
The “I AM” vs. the “I Am Not”: We define ourselves by our lack - I am not strong enough, I am not young enough, I am not forgiven. This text invites you to anchor your identity in His “I AM” rather than your “I am not.” When you are in Christ, His eternal sufficiency covers your temporary deficiency.
3. THE REACTION OF THOSE WHO UNDERSTOOD (v. 59) John 8:59
"So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple."
They picked up stones. Now why does that matter? Because under Jewish law, the punishment for blasphemy - for claiming to be God when you are not - was death by stoning. That is exactly what they reached for.
Which means they understood what Jesus said. They were not confused about His meaning. They were not asking for clarification. They knew. He had claimed the divine name. And they thought He was lying.
But here is the thing. Jesus is either who He says He is - the eternal I AM, God in flesh - or He is the most dangerous liar who ever lived. There is not a comfortable middle ground. You cannot land on “Jesus was a really wise teacher” after He says what He said in verse 58. A really wise teacher does not claim to be YHWH.
So the religious leaders who picked up those stones - as misguided as they were - at least took the claim seriously. They understood what He said. The question is what you do with it.
EXEGESIS
The Location Matters: This is happening in the Temple treasury. The Temple was still under construction during Jesus’ ministry. These were not just random rocks on a road - they were likely building materials, the very structure meant to house the presence of God. They picked up the “house of God” to try and kill God’s Son.
The Executioner’s Role: By picking up stones, they were not just angry - they were attempting a summary execution. According to Leviticus 24:16, the whole congregation had to participate in stoning a blasphemer. By picking up stones, they were essentially casting their vote that Jesus was a devil rather than Deity.
The “Hiding” of the I AM: The text says Jesus “hid himself.” The Greek word ekrybe implies a supernatural or providential shielding. There is a profound theological point here: if you reject the Light of the World, the Light eventually hides itself from you. They wanted Him gone, so He complied with their rejection.
APPLICATION
Drop Your “Stones”: We stone Jesus today not with rocks, but with our refusal to let Him have the final say in our lives. What is the stone you are holding onto? Is it a habit, a grudge, or an intellectual objection you are using to keep Him at a distance?
Face the Radical Claim: This week, stop treating Jesus as a consultant for your life and start treating Him as the I AM. Evaluate your prayer life: Are you giving Him to-do lists, or are you falling on your face because the Eternal God is in the room?
GOSPEL CONNECTION
When Jesus says “Before Abraham was, I am,” He is not just making a claim about the past. He is making a claim about your present.
Because the God who spoke the universe into existence, who showed up to Moses in fire, who walked into the temple and said I AM - that same God walked to a cross. Not because He had to. Because He chose to. For you.
The I AM who has always existed chose to be broken for the ones who did not recognize Him. That is the gospel. The eternal One became temporary so that the temporary ones - us - could have eternal life.