“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
(John 8:58)
The first verse of the Gospel of John beautifully parallels the first verse of Genesis in that they both begin with the phrase, “In the beginning.” John goes on to say in his Gospel that not only was the “Word” in the beginning with God, but that this Word was God. Further, this same “Word” who became flesh and dwelled among men was an active participant in the creation of all things. Indeed, every member of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Spirit – was present not only “in the beginning” … but also in eternity before the beginning.
The Apostle John continues, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” (John 1:10-12). Due to their state of spiritual blindness, God’s chosen people as a whole rejected Christ as their long-awaited Messiah. So when He declares of Himself in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I am,” the religious leaders accuse Him of blasphemy.
This self-declaration of Christ certainly affirmed His divine nature and inherent eternal existence. But even more than that, by using the phrase “I am,” He invoked the sacred name of God revealed to Moses in Exodus. This identified and connected Christ with both the history of the Israelites as well as with the very Person of God. In truth, this Christ who stood before them existed before Abraham, even before the world. For He was eternal God in human form.
In this statement, Jesus conveyed an essential truth about Himself to His listeners. His claim was not intended as a reference to His mission nor to His role as Messiah. Rather it was a clear and distinct declaration of His eternal divinity. And the Jews knew exactly what He was declaring, which is why they wanted to throw him off the cliff at that moment and kill him.
“Christ was not just a historical figure confined to the pages of the New Testament. He is the eternal Word, present before creation, active throughout history, and continuing to work in our lives today. This truth brings comfort, assurance, and a profound sense of connection to the divine that transcends time and space.”[1]
Contemplations:
- The Timeless Shepherd: In my quiet time of prayer, I ponder the awe-inspiring truth that Christ, my Lord, existed before time itself. His self-declaration, “Before Abraham was, I am” fills me with a deep sense of security and belonging, for my shepherd has been tending His flock from the very beginning and will continue to do so for eternity.
- The Divine Witness: Christ’s words, “Before Abraham was, I am,” affirms that He has witnessed every moment, every struggle, every thought, word, and deed of humanity. His omnipresence throughout time and eternity assures me that He knows and understands my path as well as the paths of countless souls before me.
- The Eternal Word: The truth that Christ existed in eternity past before His earthly incarnation reminds me that God’s Word is never restricted by human timelines but is instead eternal, ever relevant and ever guiding.
- The Unchanging Messiah: In a world where change seems to be the only constant, Christ has always been and will always be the great King providing a stable foundation for my faith. His unchanging nature is a source of enduring hope and peace in my spiritual walk.
Further References for John 8:58:
Exod. 3:14; John 1:1; Micah 5:2; Heb. 13:8
[1] William Gouge, A Learned and Very Useful Commentary on the Whole Epistle to the Hebrews (London: A.M., T.W. and S.G. for Joshua Kirton, 1655), 235.)
