John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 13, Day 5

Prayer

As you draw near to spend time with Jesus, quiet your mind and body until you feel completely present. Express your gratitude to Jesus for coming to save you!

Bible Reading: John 8:48-58

Read these verses three times slowly.

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself;but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Reflection & Questions

In John 8, Jesus has been brutally honest, and He has really got under the collar of the Pharisees and the Jews. Today’s verses seal this drubbing of a chapter, with Jesus claiming that He is greater than Abraham.

To understand how shocking this is we need to understand how important Abraham was. He was the one whom God promised that all nations would be blessed through him. He was the one who God promised that he would be a father of many nations, including the Jews. He was the one who obeyed God even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his only son. We could keep going.

Abraham was a great man, but Jesus was greater. Jesus makes it clear that He came first – “before Abraham was born, I am!” In other words, not only was Jesus alive before Abraham, Jesus is claiming that He has the very name of God Himself, “I AM”. How did Abraham regard Jesus’ greatness? “Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing [Jesus’] day; he saw it and was glad.” Abraham loved that Jesus was shown to be greater.

1. What words or phrases from these verses encourage you today? Why?
2. Who does the world consider great? How is Jesus greater than them in every respect?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to the reading today.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?