Jesus: Do You Recognize Him?

John 8:51-58

Jesus said to the Jews:"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death."

So the Jews said to him, "Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?"

Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad."

So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."

So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Do you thirst to know God -- to know him personally and the power and depth of his love for us?

God made us to know him and he gives us the gift of faith and understanding to grow in our knowledge of him.

Jesus challenged the people of Israel to accept his word as the revelation of God. His claims challenged the very foundation of their belief and understanding of God.

Jesus made a series of claims which are the very foundation of his life and mission. What are these claims?

First, Jesus claims unique knowledge of God. Jesus claims that the only way to full knowledge of the mind and heart of God is through himself.

Jesus also claims unique obedience to God the Father. He thinks, lives and acts in the knowledge of his Father's word. To look at his life is to "see how God wishes me to live." In Jesus alone we see what God wants us to know and what he wants us to be.

When the Jews asked Jesus who do you claim to be? he answered, before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus claims to be timeless and there is only one in the universe who is timeless, namely God.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Jesus was not just a man who came, lived, died, and then rose again. He is the immortal timeless One, who always was and always will be. In Jesus we see the eternal God in visible flesh. His death and rising make it possible for us to share in his eternal life.

Do you live in the hope and joy of the resurrection?

"Lord, let your word be on my lips and in my heart that I may walk in the freedom of your truth and love."