Before Abraham Was Born, I Am

The Jews answer with insult, but Jesus answers with honor for the Father, obedience to his word, and a promise that those who keep his word will never see death.

T⁴⁸he Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?” ⁴⁹“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge. ⁵¹Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” ⁵²“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death. ⁵³Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?” ⁵⁴Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”

The Jews object to Jesus' claim to have seen Abraham. Jesus answers with a solemn claim to prior existence, and the crowd picks up stones as he leaves the temple.

⁵⁷Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am! ” ⁵⁹At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.