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"...before Abraham came into existence, I AM!" John 8:58 NET
"...before Abraham came into existence, I AM!" John 8:58 NET
The Gospel of John records a fiery exchange Jesus had with Judeans of his day who were taking issue with his claims of speaking the truths of God, claiming eternal existence, and using the name of God of himself.
John 8:53-58 NET
53 You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Yet you do not know 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 teaching. 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I AM!”
Title to Video 1 - John 8:58
Title to Video 2 - John 8:58
Questions
Questions
Q1. On what grounds were the Judeans offended by Jesus?
Q2. What attributes of God did Jesus attest to?
Q3. What was the significance of Jesus using the term, "I AM"?
Learning activities
Learning activities
Activity 1 - Significance of the Name of God: "I AM"
When Moses asks God to reveal his Name, God discloses his Name as "I AM that I AM" ("JEHOVAH" or "YAHWEH"):
Exodus 3:14 NET
13 Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’—what should I say to them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM.”
Activity 2 - In the culture of that day the name is the nature
In the Hebrew and Jewish culture of that day, names would be given (and changed) to reflect the nature or character of the person named. To ask for and know the name of someone, was to know their character and nature.
Consider what God communicated to Moses when he revealed his Name to him as "I AM that I AM".
Activity 2 - In the culture of that day the name is the nature
In the Hebrew and Jewish culture of that day, names would be given (and changed) to reflect the nature or character of the person named. To ask for and know the name of someone, was to know their character and nature.
Consider what God communicated to Moses when he revealed his Name to him as "I AM that I AM".
Activity 3 - Jesus speaks aloud the revered unspoken Name of God
The Name of God was so revered amongst the Hebrews and Jews that it would be alluded to, but never spoken out loud.
Consider the effect and meaning of Jesus not only uttering this Name of God out load, but appropriating it of himself. He was proclaiming that he is God!
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