God Glorifies the Son

God's Creative Word
The Word Was in the Beginning
The Wedding at Cana

John 8:48-59

The Message

I Am Who I Am

 ⁴⁸The Jews then said, "That clinches it. We were right all along when we called you a Samaritan and said you were crazy—demon-possessed!" ^49-51Jesus said, "I'm not crazy. I simply honor my Father, while you dishonor me. I am not trying to get anything for myself. God intends something gloriously grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. I say this with absolute confidence. If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll never have to look death in the face."
 ^52-53At this point the Jews said, "Now we know you're crazy. Abraham died. The prophets died. And you show up saying, 'If you practice what I'm telling you, you'll never have to face death, not even a taste.' Are you greater than Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you think you are!"
 ^54-56Jesus said, "If I turned the spotlight on myself, it wouldn't amount to anything. But my Father, the same One you say is your Father, put me here at this time and place of splendor. You haven't recognized him in this. But I have. If I, in false modesty, said I didn't know what was going on, I would be as much of a liar as you are. But I do know, and I am doing what he says. Abraham—your 'father'—with jubilant faith looked down the corridors of history and saw my day coming. He saw it and cheered."
 ⁵⁷The Jews said, "You're not even fifty years old—and Abraham saw you?"
 ⁵⁸"Believe me," said Jesus, "I am who I am long before Abraham was anything."
 ⁵⁹That did it—pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.

For Reflection 

This is an astounding revelation to the Jews.  What Jesus was proclaiming was preposterous. Moreover, if it were true, the way the Jews lived their lives and practiced their faith would be challenged.
Jesus challenges us in the same way today.  Christ challenges our way of life.  He challenges us to become increasingly Christ-centered and to reject self-centered culture-centered responses.  How do you approach this challenge?

After the Christ event, truth became knowable. 

Pray

that you will meet Christ challenges head on; fearlessly.  Pray that you will respond in Christ-centered ways so that you can become a witness to the Kingdom of God.