John 8:52-59 is our text this morning. It concludes Jesus' contending with the Pharisees and He does so with the strongest possible example of His divine nature. He uses the term "I AM" as a description of who He is.

The meaning of this term is not lost on those hearing Him. They knew the scripture. They know that is how God described Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 and their reaction to His words leave no doubt as to His meaning. They knew Abraham in the genetic way, as being his descendants. Jesus and Abraham we not simply genetically tied, but Abraham also knew of Jesus and who He was.

John began this gospel making sure we knew of Jesus' eternal nature. Now John records this statement, found only in John's gospel, leaving no doubt. For those who claim Jesus never asserted He was God, look again, here is yet another place where he did precisely that.

On another level, a careful look at this passage along with others like it, we need to see the big picture. Here is Jesus, God made flesh, who has power beyond what they could possibly imagine, and yet He allows mortal man to contend with and even insult God who was standing right in front of them.

He is indeed patient and loving.

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