Before Abraham was...

The Great “I AM”: Jesus Is Truly God

A Summary of John 8:13-59

Sermon March 24th, 2026 - Pastor Scott Thompson

John 8:13-59 is one of the clearest and most direct sections in all of Scripture regarding the identity of Jesus Christ. Throughout this chapter, Jesus does not merely claim to be a prophet, teacher, or moral guide. He declares truths about Himself that point unmistakably to His divine nature. The religious leaders of His day understood exactly what He was saying, which is why the passage ends with them attempting to stone Him. Jesus was not simply claiming to speak for God. He was claiming equality with God.

The conflict begins in verse 13 after Jesus declares in verse 12 that He is “the light of the world.” The Pharisees immediately challenge His testimony, questioning His authority. Yet Jesus responds that His witness is true because He knows where He came from and where He is going (John 8:14, ESV). Unlike ordinary men, Jesus speaks with heavenly authority because He was sent by the Father. He consistently points to His unique relationship with God the Father, saying in verse 18, “I am the one who bears witness about Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness about Me.”

This statement is significant. No mere man could make such a claim. Jesus presents Himself as one eternally connected to the Father, perfectly united in mission and purpose. The Pharisees fail to understand because they judge according to worldly standards. Their blindness is not intellectual alone, but spiritual.

As the conversation continues, Jesus warns them that apart from faith in Him they will die in their sins. In verse 24 He says plainly, “for unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins.” The wording here carries tremendous weight. The phrase “I am He” echoes the divine name revealed by God in Exodus 3:14 when God declared to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Jesus is not merely identifying Himself as the Messiah. He is pointing to His divine identity.

This becomes even clearer as the chapter progresses. Jesus explains that true freedom is not political or earthly, but spiritual. Though the Jews boast of being descendants of Abraham, Jesus tells them they are enslaved to sin: “everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34, ESV). The answer to this slavery is not heritage, religion, or good works. It is the Son Himself. Jesus declares, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36, ESV). Only God has the authority to liberate sinners from bondage to sin, yet Jesus claims this authority for Himself.

The tension escalates when Jesus confronts their unbelief. Though they physically descend from Abraham, they do not share Abraham’s faith. Abraham rejoiced to see the coming of Christ, but these religious leaders reject the One standing before them. Jesus says something astonishing in verse 56: “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”

Confused and offended, the Jews question how Jesus, not yet fifty years old, could have seen Abraham. Then comes one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture. Jesus answers, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58, ESV).

Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say, “Before Abraham was, I was.” He says, “I am.” This is a direct claim to the eternal name of God. Jesus identifies Himself with Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The religious leaders understood exactly what He meant. Verse 59 says they picked up stones to throw at Him for blasphemy.

John 8 leaves no room for a diminished view of Christ. Jesus is not merely a wise teacher or a good example. He is fully God, eternal, self-existent, and one with the Father. To reject Him is to remain in sin, but to trust in Him is to receive true freedom and eternal life.

The question John 8 presses upon every reader is this: Who do you believe Jesus is? The answer matters for eternity. Jesus is not simply a man pointing the way to God. He is God in the flesh, the great “I AM,” and the only Savior for sinners.

We always encourage everyone to check everything through the lens of the Scriptures. Be like the noble Bereans of Paul's day. Please visit us here for much more, and remember, Christ is enough.

Today, let us together, trust in Jesus and look forward to His word in us! Until we meet again, lets go serve our King!



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