“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Jesus had just said, “Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing My day; he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56, NIV 1984). This spoke of personal experience, which earned the “Jews” ridicule. “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and You have seen Abraham!” (John 8:57, NIV 1984). Preposterous. Impossible.
Then came another “I tell you the truth.” Pay attention class. “Before Abraham was born, I am!” Not I was. “I am.” This they understood all too well. “Before Abraham was.” He, Abraham, was born. He lived for a time. Then he died. “I am!” I, Jesus, without beginning or end. I am Eternal. I am God. Blasphemy! “At this, they picked up stones to stone Him.” (John 8:59, NIV 1984). A legitimate response, if He was not telling the truth. “But Jesus hid Himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.” (John 8:59, NIV 1984). Because He was telling the truth and His time, something He had not been subject to before His incarnation, had not yet come.
My Advice – We can figuratively “[pick] up stones to stone Him” during our time under the sun. But one day “at the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10–11, NIV 1984). One day, figuratively, all will drop the stones they raised to throw in life.
Drop the stones now, while you still have time. Because one day it will be too late. Drop to your knees instead. Confess with your tongue “that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Enter into “the glory of God the Father.”
The Brew Is A Musing 