Jesus and Abraham

Today's Reflections

http://graceandspace.org

Jesus and Abraham

Jn 8:51-59

[Jesus said to the Jews,] ⁵¹“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” ⁵²[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.’ ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴Jesus 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.’ ⁵⁵You 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. ⁵⁶Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” ⁵⁹So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Reflection:

Who do you make yourself out to be? The Jews ask Jesus, “Sino ka ba?” In reply, Jesus makes a most astonishing claim, “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” They then almost stone Jesus to death, for what Jesus says sounds like blasphemy. He uses for himself the name of God in the Old Testament (I AM). He is the one who is—always present to his creatures and to us. He was present to Abraham, is present to us now, and will be present to all generations. In Matthew, Jesus makes this promise: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20).

Walk through life aware of the fact that Jesus is the ever-present Lord who is lovingly present to you and will not abandon you. He is with you always to save you.

Are you with Jesus the Lord

as his steadfast follower?