I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I Am!" John 8:58 NIV
Abraham was the father of faith. When God looked for a man to lead a nation of His people, He looked to Abraham. Abraham said yes. He left his people, the homeland where he was raised, and headed out to an unknown land. Today we might say "big deal". Before the discovery of maps and atlases, or the invention of modern transportation or even roads, it was indeed a big deal! Abraham's faith to simply trust and obey is an example to all of us today.
Through Abraham God began the Jewish nation. Through Abraham came Isaac, Jacob, eventually Moses, the law, and one day David. Abraham, in spite of the fact that he and his wife Sarah were past the age of child-bearing, and had no children, believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Oh, Abraham was certainly a great man!
As great as Abraham was, Jesus was far greater! Imagine Jesus, the carpenter's son from Nazareth, standing before the Jews, who knew so much about their great patriarch Abraham, and telling them "before Abraham was born, I Am!" Can you say indignation? Can you say audacity? Can you say pompous? Can you imagine the ooh's and ah's? The Scripture tells us that after Jesus made this declaration the crowds picked up stones to stone Him.
This was actually a natural reaction. Think about it. What if I said someone was greater than your spouse, or greater than your children? What if I claimed I knew someone greater than your pastor; greater than your priest? I do! His name is Jesus. Can you see that this crowd was dealing with the same thing that you and I must deal with everyday? They were having to decide where to place Jesus in their lives; what priority to give Him. They weren't mean people necessarily. If Jesus had remained a simple carpenter's son they may have invited him to dinner, but when He claimed to be Christ; greater even than Abraham, then He forced the people to make a decision. They must decide: will I accept His testimony, or will I reject Him?
You and I must decide to! Jesus makes that claim to us! He is Supreme! He is greater than anything or anyone to whom you can attempt to compare Him. He will stand the test of time! You must, however, choose to accept or reject His claims! Is He the Christ? Is He the Great I AM? Is He the promised Messiah? Is the One True Son of God?
I've made my decision. I've laid down my stones and began picking up my crowns. One day I will lay them at His feet and sing with the angels and the saints "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Will you be with me when I sing to the King of kings?
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