BEFORE ABRAHAM I AM

BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM JOHN 8:48-59

They asked Jesus, “Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?”

“I have no demon,” Jesus answered. “I honour my Father, but you dishonor me.  I am not seeking honour for myself. But there is one who is seeking it and who judges in my favour. I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die.”

They said to him, “Now we are certain that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. “Who do you think you are?”

Jesus answered, “If I were to honour myself, that honour would be worth nothing. The one who honours me is my Father – the very one you say is your God. You have never known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see the time of my coming, he saw it and was glad.”

  

They said to him, “You are not even fifty years old – and you have seen Abraham?”

“I am telling you the truth,” Jesus replied. “Before Abraham was born,  ‘I Am.”

Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

Feast of Assumption

I DID NOT COME ON MY OWN AUTHORITY JOHN 8:42-47

IF GOD REALLY WERE YOUR FATHER YOU WOULD LOVE ME

 

Jesus Said to them, “If God really were you father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. 

You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

But I tell the truth, then why do you not believe me? He who comes from God listens to God’s word. You, however, are not from God, and that is why you will not listen.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ. Make me understand his teaching. Open my ears to listen to his teaching. Give me wisdom to understand. Jesus Christ my Lord I love you. H.G.