Are You Greater Than Our Father Abraham? - John 8:53

The apostle John wrote how Jesus told the Jewish people who were questioning Him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that you have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death”, and in chapter eight and verse fifty-three of his book John shared how the religious leaders ask Jesus, “are you greater than our father Abraham?” where we read:

Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead?

and the prophets are dead: who do you make yourself?

The verse reads, “Are you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead?” John began with the words, “Are you greater than” which means “do you exist as larger, stronger and elder to” “our father Abraham” or “our, Jewish peoples', progenitor and ancestor Abraham which means father of a multitude and was the founder of the Jewish nation”, “which is dead” which means “who exists as breathless, without life and inanimate”? John shared how the Jewish people wanted to know if Jesus thought He was “superior” to “Father Abraham” who was the founder of the Jewish nation and yet was “dead”.

The verse goes on to say, “and the prophets are dead: who do you make yourself?” John continued with the words, “and the prophets” which means “and the ones who were moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declared to men what they received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “are dead” or “exist as breathless, without life and inanimate”: “who do you make yourself” which means “what person do you, Jesus, make ready, produce, constitute and appoint to your own self”? John shared how the Jewish people referred to the “prophets” of old who were also “dead”, and they questioned “who” Jesus “made” Himself out to be.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the discussion was getting more intense between Jesus and these Jewish people because the Jewish people were now referring to the “death” of both “Abraham” and the “prophets” of old. They could not understand how Jesus could promise no “death” for anyone who observed and kept His words. The Jewish people thought this idea elevated Jesus in His own mind to be greater than “Abraham and the prophets”, so they interrogated Him. Jesus came to the earth to be the “Savior and Lord” of every person who will believe and trust in Him. When they do, Jesus will forgive their sins and grant them “everlasting life” with God. In other words, though they will physically die, they will never know the “spiritual death” which includes separation from Almighty God.

Next time John shares how Jesus tells the religious leaders, “If I honor myself, my honor is nothing”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".