Advent Devotional Guide: Jesus Is!

 Jesus Is!

Advent Devotional Guide
Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am! John 8:58

In John 8, Jesus went to the temple courts and many people gathered around him. He was a good teacher, you know, and they were curious to hear what he would say to them. But the leaders of the church were not amused. They had it in their hearts the he was a troublemaker at best and was most definitely a threat to their authority – something that they could not tolerate.

 

Some of the Jews present in the temple court believed that Jesus spoke the truth and to them he said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” This prompted a more in-depth conversation with them.

 

Meanwhile the church leaders became more agitated at Jesus’ words, especially about his claims about himself. They called him a Samaritan (to the Jews those were fighting words) and declared that he must be possessed by a demon. Jesus responded to them by discussing their church patriarch, Abraham. Referring to the prophecies about the Messiah, Jesus said to them, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” John 8:56

 

That was bad enough. But he followed by saying, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

 

What Jesus was saying was clear to the church leaders. He was equating himself to God. For those of us looking back, we can see it more clearly. But for them it was blasphemy – a sin worthy of a hearty stoning.

 

Jesus slipped away into the crowd which probably made them even more angry.

 

At the risk of sounding a bit redundant, that Jesus and the Father are eternal and are one is the underlying theme of this devotional guide. We have seen it in my introduction as quoted from the Old Testament (Exodus 3:7-8) and now from the New.

 

Praise be to God! He is eternal. He is!

 

Lord, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have a relationship with you, the one true God who is and was and will be.  Help us to maintain our focus on You during this Christmas season and for the days beyond.