Before Abraham was, I AM!

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.' Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them." (1)

The "I AM" reference that Jesus used here comes from when God met with Moses at the burning bush and instructed Moses to go to Pharaoh and intercede on Israel's behalf. And God said to Moses, "I (will) bring the children of Israel out of Egypt…

"Then Moses said to God, "When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them.

"And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.' Moreover God said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: "The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations." ' " (2)

In Christ's conversation with the Jews, the subject turned to Abraham. (See the story in John 8:33-59) The Pharisees were contending with Jesus. Near the end of the conversation Jesus made the statement, "Before Abraham was, I AM." That enraged the Pharisees and they picked up stones to throw at Him. The Jews were not accepting that Jesus was the promised Messiah, "The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (3)

On another occasion, the Jews took up stones to stone Jesus. Jesus asked, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?" The Jews replied, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." (4) John wrote of the attitude of Jewish leaders, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (5)

"He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight." (6)

Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Old Testament. He is the One who walked with Abraham and who Abraham pleaded with on behalf of Sodom. See the story in Genesis 18. Jesus is the One who wrestled with Jacob "until the break of day" and blessed him and gave him the name of Israel. And Jacob said, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (7)

Jesus is the One who met with Moses at the burning bush when He said, "I AM WHO I AM". And God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations." (2)

The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses declared Himself to the Jewish priests and leaders the day and "they took up stones to throw at Him". They did not recognize the prophecies relating to the Messiah. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (8) (To be continued)

1. John 8:58, 59.
2. Exodus 3:10, 13-15.
3. Micah 5:2.
4. John 10:32, 33.
5. John 1:5.
6. Colossians 1:15-22.
7. Genesis 32:30.
8. Isaiah 9:6.