Pastor Rusty Milton
"Before Abraham Was, I AM"
John 8:49-58 ESV
Who did Jesus claim to be? Many believe that he never actually claimed to be God, but is this accurate? In John 8:56, Jesus declares that he is the fulfillment of the promise of redemption made to Abraham. In vs. 57-58, he declares that he is EGO EIMI, the great I AM (Jehovah) who can forgive sins, who sends the Spirit, God's one and only Son, and one with the Father. Any honest reading of the Gospels can leave us with no doubt: Jesus declared himself one with, and inseparable from, God.
John 8:49–58
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but hI honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet iI do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, jI say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never ksee death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! lAbraham died, as did the prophets, yet myou say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never ntaste death.’ 53 oAre you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, p“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. qIt is my Father who glorifies me, rof whom you say, ‘He is our God.’4 55 But syou have not known him. tI know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be ua liar vlike you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 wYour father Abraham xrejoiced ythat he would see my day. zHe saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”5 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, aI am.”