🔥 Devotional on John 8:51–59 | "Before Abraham Was, I Am"

🌟 Eternal Identity Revealed — The I AM Among Us

📖 Scripture: John 8:51–59 (NIV)

51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death."

52 At this they exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death.

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.

55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

57 "You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"

58 "Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

🧎 1. Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are eternal. Open my heart today to see who You truly are. Help me respond in faith and awe at Your divine glory. Amen.

🔁 2. Repeated Words or Phrases

• "Obey(s) my word" – vv. 51, 55
• "Abraham" – vv. 52, 53, 56, 57, 58
• "Glory / glorify" – v. 54
• "I am" – v. 58 (echoing Exodus 3:14)

🎯 3. Theme

Jesus boldly reveals His eternal divine identity, greater than Abraham—He is the "I AM."

🕊️ 4. Observing God

• Jesus claims power over death for those who obey Him (v.51).
• He does not glorify Himself but is glorified by the Father (v.54).
• Jesus affirms intimate knowledge of the Father and obedience to His word (v.55).
• He connects Abraham’s joy to His own arrival (v.56).
• He declares His eternal identity: "Before Abraham was, I am" (v.58).

🧍 5. Observing Humanity

• The Jews misunderstand Jesus' spiritual claim and respond with accusation (v.52).
• They rely on tradition (Abraham and the prophets) more than revelation (v.53).
• They question Jesus' authority and identity (vv.53, 57).
• Their response to truth is violent rejection—they try to stone Him (v.59).

💡 6. Interpreting God

In this passage, Jesus unveils one of the clearest declarations of His divinity: "Before Abraham was, I am." He is not merely a prophet or teacher, but the eternal God who existed before time. His authority over death, His relationship with the Father, and His fulfillment of Abraham’s hope all point to His unmatched identity. Jesus doesn't seek fame but glorifies the Father and is glorified in return. He is worthy of worship, awe, and obedience.

🧠 7. Interpreting Humanity

The people struggled to reconcile Jesus' divine claim with His human appearance. Their logic, rooted in age and ancestry, blinded them from recognizing the One standing before them. Instead of faith, they responded with insult and violence. This mirrors our own resistance to truth when it threatens our frameworks. We often cling to tradition and pride, missing the presence of God in our midst.

🪞 8. Application

Do I see Jesus merely as a figure in history or as the living "I AM" who speaks into my life today? When His truth challenges my comfort or tradition, do I resist or believe? Today, I choose to submit to the eternal Word, to rejoice like Abraham at His coming, and to trust Jesus as the One who conquers death.

💖 9. Spiritual Touch

"Before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58)

🙏 10. Closing Prayer

Jesus, You are the great I AM—eternal, sovereign, and near. Forgive me for reducing You to my limited understanding. Help me walk in reverence, knowing You were before all things and will be forever. Let me glorify You in obedience and love.

🌿 11. Live It Today

Throughout today, remind yourself: Jesus is not bound by time or tradition. He is eternal and present. When you pray, know you're speaking to the I AM.