Turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter eight. We’re coming to the end of this chapter this morning, and we’re coming to the end of this conversation that took place between Jesus and these Jewish leaders. And we’re also coming to the end of a significant section in John’s gospel.

It’s a section that focuses mainly on the conflict that Jesus faced, despite showing who he was to them very clearly. The chapters one through four really serve to introduce Jesus, and there wasn’t a lot of conflict. There was some, but it really didn’t characterize the first four chapters. There wasn’t as much, at least, hostile reaction to Jesus.

But then you get to chapter five. And really chapters five through eight, we see this increasing hatred on the part of these leaders. And as you remember, chapter five begins with the controversy over the Sabbath and Jesus healing the man on the Sabbath day.

And that was where they first tried to seize and kill Jesus for who he was, for who he was clearly revealing that he was. And here today, chapter eight ends with this conversation that we’ve been studying for several weeks now, and they’re trying to do the very same thing. And here today, In this conversation, the leaders have increasingly expressed their hostility, even now, toward Jesus.

Mostly because Jesus has been increasingly clear about exactly who he is. We called earlier on in this chapter, I mentioned that we call this chapter the I Am chapter of the Bible. Because Jesus over and over five times now has mentioned and told them specifically he is the I Am. And today we see that fifth time. That is the most clear and undeniable claim of deity that Jesus makes.

And in this conversation, Jesus and these Jewish leaders have centered around the person of Abraham. Abraham is mentioned either by the Jews or by Jesus 11 times in this chapter, which is significant because it’s the only chapter of John that he’s mentioned in.

The example of Abraham was raised in verse 33, where Jesus tells them and is revealing to them who he is and they answer him in verse 33, we are Abraham’s seed and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say you will become free? And their obvious meaning here as Jesus has just revealed to them that they’re slaves to sin and need to be delivered and set free from that sin, their clear meaning is that they base their confidence in salvation. The confidence that they have in redemption from sin on their relationship to Abraham, and we’ve seen that and examined that thoroughly. God did promise to bless Abraham and his seed, and they were Abraham’s seed physically. So they figure, well, we’re already blessed, so there’s nothing for us to worry about. We are Abraham’s seed.

And so Jesus has been pointing out to them several times and in several different ways that it’s not your physical family that matters. It’s your spiritual family that you need to get right. In verse 39, Jesus points out to them that if you are Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham. And this point is particularly important in the verses that we come to here at the end of chapter eight.

We are once again told to consider Abraham’s example, to consider what Abraham did because clearly God is not impressed with your bloodline or your family tree. But what is it that matters to God? What is it that God is looking for in you? Or to put it better, what did Abraham do that pleased God? What were the deeds of Abraham that Jesus was looking for in them?

In our text today, again, Abraham comes up in his example to them as Jesus says, your father Abraham rejoiced to see me, to see my day. He saw it and was glad. We’ll get to what all that means. But again, Abraham is in the spotlight. Abraham believed God in spite of the circumstances that he faced. And more specifically, Abraham believed in Jesus Christ. Abraham placed his ultimate hope in the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and He rejoiced at his coming, Jesus says. Abraham got a glimpse of the glory that was going to be revealed in Jesus Christ.

And John told us of this glory in the introduction to this gospel. In John chapter 1 verse 14, we read and studied that the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. Glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. It was ultimately the glory of God that the Son was sent to reveal. And it was that glory that we see in this text this morning. In the conclusion of this conversation with these Jews, Jesus more clearly reveals his glory to them.

And one of the most magnificent texts in this gospel, in this text we see four aspects of Jesus’ glory. First, we see Jesus’ glory dishonored. And secondly, we’ll see Jesus’ glory doubted. But then we see Jesus’ glory given to him. And lastly, Jesus’ glory revealed. So Jesus’ glory dishonored, doubted, given, and revealed.

And we’ll see all of these things as we study through the final verses of this chapter, John 8, verses 48 through 59. Allow me to read our text for us this morning. John 8, verses 48 through 59. This is the word of the Lord. The Jews answered and said to him, do we not rightly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Jesus answered, I do not have a demon, but I honor my father and you dishonor me. But I do not seek my glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death ever.” The Jews said to him, and now we know that you have a demon, Abraham died and the prophets also. And you say, if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death ever. Surely you are not greater than our father Abraham who died. The prophets died too.

Whom do you make yourself out to be? Jesus answered, if I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my father who glorifies me. Of whom you say he is our God and you have not known him, but I know him. And if I say that I do not know him, I will be a liar like you. But I do know him, and keep his word.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, you are not yet 50 years old, and have you seen Abraham? And Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. Therefore, they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

The first element of Jesus’s glory that we see in this text is clearly Jesus’s glory dishonored. A good reminder for us in this discussion is what glory means. We talked about it in our evening series on worship. I talked about it yesterday at our worship conference. Glory really gets to the idea of importance or significance. So when we talk about Jesus’s glory, we’re talking about what makes him significant or important. Or more clearly, who says he’s significant or important? Who is it that glorifies him? And clearly, these Jews do not see much, if any, significance in Jesus.

After Jesus tells them, where we covered last week, starting in verse 44, if you remember, this is Jesus’ words to them that this directly follows. Verse 44 begins this way. You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.

He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me? Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?

He who is of God hears the words of God. For this reason, you do not hear them because you are not of God. So in response to that, in response to those harsh words, I was having this conversation this week that when you read paragraphs like this that Jesus spoke, It’s important that you understand that Jesus was not just some soft-spoken, easy-going pushover of a man. Jesus was harsh when he needed to be. You can hear the tone in the words that Jesus spoke to them. This was not easy to hear.

Therefore, the Jews respond to these words. In verse 48, the Jews answered and said to him, do we not rightly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? So clearly they’re outraged. They’re outraged by what Jesus says to them. They feel insulted that he truthfully called them the children of the devil. So now they upgrade their insults of him that they’ve already given. First in verse 41, they insinuate that he’s an illegitimate child. Oh, well, we’re not born of sexual immorality, Jesus, like you are, which is literally an insult of not just him, but his mother. But now they come right out and say, he’s a demon possessed Samaritan.

See, the Samaritans like Jesus. Doubted the Jews heritage from Abraham. They claimed they were the people of God for different reasons than Jesus did But being called a Samaritan was one of the worst insults that as you could call another The Jews hated the Samaritans Because they saw them as both physical and spiritual half-breeds and We talked about this back in chapter four with the woman at the well, but that’s been a little while now. The Samaritans were the descendants of Jews who had remained in the land at the exile. When the Jewish people, the nation, was sent off to Assyria in captivity. And they intermarried with the pagans who came to live in the land. And when the Samaritans offered to help rebuild the temple after the Jews were released from captivity, the Jews said, no thanks, we don’t need your help.

And the hatred between these two groups intensified throughout their history. And so by the time you get to Jesus’s day, the mutual hatred is quite strong. Remember back in John chapter four, verse nine, it said, therefore the Samaritan woman said to him, how do you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, being a Samaritan? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. They didn’t even talk to each other. They were neighbors.

They hated each other that much that it was a shock that Jesus would even talk to a Samaritan. and many Jews refused to travel through Samaria, and so in return, Samaritans refused hospitality to Jews. We read about that in Luke chapter nine. In verses 51 to 53, it says, now it happened that when the days for him to be taken up were soon to be fulfilled, he set his face to go to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers on ahead of him. And they went and entered the village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for him, but they did not receive him, because he was journeying with his face toward Jerusalem. To say the least, there was much unfriendliness between the Samaritans and the Jews. But Jesus, he wasn’t bothered by that. He wasn’t bothered by their ethnic hostility. If you remember, who was the first person that Jesus revealed that he was the Messiah? It was the Samaritan woman. And in the parable about being a good neighbor, who was the good neighbor? It was the good Samaritan.

But to these Jews, being a Samaritan was the worst of the worst. And just think about this. Jesus identified them as the spawn of the devil. And so they come back with, oh, you’re a demon-possessed Samaritan. They think that’s worse. It shows what they think of Samaritans. But in their blindness, which will become the focus in chapter nine, they were quite confident that Jesus was an enemy of God. And not only was he one of these Samaritans, he was a demon-possessed Samaritan. And saying someone was demon-possessed is calling them insane. This is what they said to people when you were being insane. In John chapter 10, verse 20, we read that many were saying, he has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to him?

But Jesus is not provoked by their insults. He doesn’t respond in anger. Jesus is in control of this situation. And Peter, an apostle who is probably standing right here watching this happen, listening to this conversation here in the temple, he later tells us in his first letter in 1 Peter chapter two, listen to this that Peter writes in his letter in light of this conversation, this conversation that’s been going on in chapter eight between the Jews and Jesus. Listen to how Peter describes his savior. First Peter chapter two verses 21 to 23, for to this you have been called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps, who did no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth, who being reviled was not reviling in return.

While suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously. He did not revile in return. Jesus told the truth. They reviled him for it. And instead of reviling, he calmly says, I do not have a demon. Think about that passage from Peter. Christ also suffered for you. Christ’s suffering was not just hanging on that cross. Not just taking the whippings and beatings and all the things associated with his crucifixion. That certainly was his suffering. But his entire life was suffering for us. His ministry, as we have seen, taking the insults, taking the hatred, reviled. He did not revile in return.

He gave us an example. When they insult your legitimacy as a child, they insult your mother. They call you a demon-possessed Samaritan, the worst insult you can think of. How do you respond? How do you feel when people mock you and insult you without cause? Leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.

He did no sin. Nor was any deceit found in his mouth who being reviled was not reviling in return. He uttered no threats. He kept entrusting himself. to him who judges righteously.” Peter saw this firsthand. So Jesus answers, I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. You dishonor me. I honor my Father and you dishonor me. And he told them in chapter five that he who does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him. And these Jews continue to reveal that they do not know God at all. After Jesus continually warns them, they continually dishonor the one the father sent.

If God were your father, you would love me. For I proceeded forth and have come from God. I have not even come of myself, but he sent me. If God were your father, you would love me. Not call me a demon-possessed Samaritan.” If they were really children of God, they would recognize the one that God sent. If they were really children of God, they would recognize God’s true son. And in this verse we read last week, verse 42 there that I just read for you, Jesus reveals to them who he is.

Just in those words, I proceeded forth and have come from God. Jesus is not just repeating himself there. He proceeded forth from God. That’s his nature. He is of God. He has the very nature of God. and he came from God, he was sent. That’s his mission. His nature and his mission reveal who he is. The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. Glory as of the only begotten of the Father. He proceeded forth from God and he was sent from God. And they call him a demon-possessed Samaritan. But his nature and his mission both reveal his glory.

And he says, I don’t seek my own glory. He doesn’t seek glory for himself. He reveals glory by revealing the Father. Verse 50, I do not seek my glory. There is one who seeks and judges. See, unlike these Jews, Jesus wasn’t out to tell everyone how important he was in himself. He didn’t seek his own glory. He wasn’t self-seeking. He wasn’t there to show how important Jesus of Nazareth, the son of the carpenter, was. He wasn’t there to receive glory from these Jews. He wasn’t there to impress them.

He was there to show the glory and importance of the Father who sent Him. He was here to show His glory in the mission He was given, which is why we read as I opened the service in Philippians 2, this is the glory of the Father seen through the Son who was sent. after describing in Philippians 2 that Jesus came in the form of a servant and was obedient till death, even the death of a cross.

It says there in verse 9, therefore, God also highly exalted him. He showed him important. He glorified him. and bestowed on him the name which was above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father who sent him.” To the glory of God the Father, that is why he came. to glorify, to show the all-importance of God the Father. And in return, the Father has highly exalted Him so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow.

In heaven, on earth, under the earth, everyone will bow. Talk about importance. Talk about glory. Every soul that has ever lived, every person ever conceived will bow at this name, the name given to him by the Father, because he did exactly what the Father sent him to do. And Jesus has a promise for anyone who does show him the honor that is due his name.

In verse 51, truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death, ever. At the beginning of this conversation, Jesus said in verse 31, if you abide in my word, then you are truly my disciples. And here he says, not only that, not only are you counted as a disciple, You’ll never die, ever. This is why he came, so that those who believe will have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in will not perish, but will have eternal life. It’s the same message over and over and over again. This is who he is. This is why he’s here. You will never die, ever, if you believe. Later, in two chapters from now, John chapter 11, Jesus says to Martha, remember what he says to Martha, whose brother is dead? I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die, ever. Do you believe this?

And here, even in the face of their hateful insults, their dishonor of him, the dishonor of his father. Jesus still graciously offers them eternal life. He’s still trying to tell them who he is. This is the first element of Jesus’s glory revealed in this text is Jesus’s glory dishonored. And next we see Jesus’s glory doubted. Verse 52, the Jews said to him, now we know that you have a demon.

Abraham died and the prophets also. And you say, if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death ever. Surely you are not greater than our father Abraham who died. The prophets died too. Who do you make yourself out to be? Now they think they’ve got him. These scholars of the law, these seeds of Abraham. Now they think they can use Abraham to their advantage. You can’t be serious, Jesus. Now we know for sure that you’re insane. Even the great Abraham died. Even the prophets died. Usually because Jews like this killed them, but they leave that part out. And notice how they quote Jesus.

If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death ever. Is that what he said? No, he said he will never see death ever. Not a big difference, except who does that sound like? Misquoting God. Their father. The serpent in the garden. Did God really say? You can’t be serious. You think you’re greater than Abraham? Oh, you bet. You better believe it. Glad you guys could finally tune in.

Jesus has only been saying that exact thing this whole time. If only they were actually starting to get it, but they’re not. They’re only doubting, which is why they say, who do you make yourself out to be? If Abraham and the prophets died, surely this man will die too. These guys will make sure of it. But the truth is, he doesn’t make himself out to be anything.

It is the Father who makes Him out to be the Savior of all those who believe in Him. And so, He will accomplish the very thing He came for, to reveal the glory of the Father. Yes, He is greater than Abraham who died. So the second element of Jesus’ glory is His glory doubted. And thirdly, we see Jesus is glory given. Where does his glory come from? Who is the one who makes him important? Verse 54, Jesus answered, if I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, he is our God. Jesus has already said that He’s not seeking His own glory. Jesus’ glory was not given to Himself by Himself.

His glory came from the Father. It is the Father who makes Him significant and important. If it wasn’t for the Father, then who is Jesus? But He is the Son of the Father. He’s the son that was sent. He’s the son that was anointed. He is the king that was placed upon God’s throne. As we read in Psalm 2 earlier, Psalm 2 starting in verse 6, but as for me, I have installed my king upon Zion. God did this. My holy mountain, I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh. He said to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall shatter them like a potter’s vessel. So now, O kings, show insight. Take warnings, O judges of the earth. Serve Yahweh with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the sun. lest he become angry and you perish in the way. For my wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all those who take refuge in him. Kiss the son. This is the father speaking. Bow down and kiss the son. Show him supreme glory. Show that he is most important because I said so.

Lest he become angry and you perish in the way. I’ll tell you, these Jews ought to be glad that Jesus did not reveal his anger to them in that moment. Can you imagine? They are standing there before the king installed on Zion. The son whom they ought to kiss lest he become angry and they perish in the way. And they stand there before this one and say, you demon possessed Samaritan.

Who do you make yourself out to be? Wow. So Jesus tells them, it is my father who glorifies me. It’s my father who says, of whom you say he is our God, but you have not known him. I know him. And if I say that I don’t know him, I’ll be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. You don’t know him. I know him. I was sent from him. You obviously don’t know him. You’re a liar. And you don’t keep his word. Or you would know Psalm 2. And you would be groveling at his feet instead of calling him names and reviling him. But you don’t know him and you don’t know the father and you’re a liar that doesn’t keep his word. So Jesus says, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. And he saw it and was glad. Abraham saw him and rejoiced. What does he mean by that? How did Abraham see him?

The book of Hebrews summarizes for us the promises given to Abraham that we see throughout the book of Genesis. Turn to Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews 11 is the faith chapter, and Hebrews 11, starting in verse 8, speaks of Abraham and what he had faith in. Hebrews chapter 11, starting in verse 8, says this. By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance.

And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith, even Sarah herself received ability to conceive even beyond the proper time of life, since she regarded him faithful who had promised. Therefore, they were born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. All these died in faith without receiving the promises.” They were right.

Abraham died, but having seen them, having seen the promises, and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth, this was the faith of Abraham. He welcomed the promise of God from a distance. He believed God, and God counted it to him as righteousness. Abraham was saved by faith alone in Christ alone. He rejoiced to see Jesus’ day. He did see it and was glad. He believed God, which is the opposite of what they were doing.

Jesus, again, is contrasting their behavior with the one they claim as their father. They are proving, once again, to not be his spiritual children. They want to murder the one that Abraham rejoiced in. So we see Jesus’ glory given here, and Jesus is speaking in a strange way to them. He’s speaking as though he had firsthand knowledge of Abraham, as if he was right there with him. Which brings us to our last element of Jesus’s glory in John chapter eight. Jesus’s glory revealed.

Verse 57, the Jews said to him, you are not yet 50 years old, and have you seen Abraham? Abraham lived more than 2,000 years before Jesus walked the earth. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of the carpenter Joseph and Mary, could not possibly have seen him. He was not even 50 years old. He was 32, to be precise. And in a sense, they are correct. In the flesh, in his humanity, Jesus had not seen Abraham.

But that’s the whole point. Jesus responds with one of the most significant statements in all of the gospel. Really, one of the most significant statements in the whole Bible. John 8, 58. Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. I am. This is another I am statement of Jesus. And he is claiming nothing less than being Yahweh God himself. So anyone that tells you that Jesus never claimed to be God has never read the Bible, does not understand the gospel of John. cannot even hear his words, to quote Jesus. He is the I am.

He is the one who revealed himself to Moses, a child of Abraham, in the burning bush. Exodus 3, 14 and 15, God says to Moses, I am who I am. Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I am has sent me to you. And God furthermore said to Moses, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob has sent me to you.

This is my name forever. I am is his name forever. Jesus of Nazareth is the God of Abraham. and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and the God of Moses, and the God of David, and the God of all believing children of God. He is the God that these Jews do not even know. He is. Not before Abraham was, I was. Before Abraham was, I am. He exists. He always exists. Before anything was, he is. He doesn’t depend on anything. He doesn’t need anything. We depend on him.

And here he is in the flesh. in Jerusalem, in the temple, standing before the very group of Jewish leaders who would condemn him to die in a matter of months. And the greatest tragedy of it all, the greatest tragedy of this conversation, the greatest tragedy of John chapter 8 that has been building and building and building to this pinnacle of revelation in John 8, 58. is that they get it. They understand exactly what he means. And we know this because verse 59, therefore they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. Stoning was the sentence for blasphemy. Blasphemy was the charge for claiming to be God. They got it. But they didn’t believe it. They hated it. And to this day, they cannot say, we didn’t know. They cannot say nobody ever told us. They heard it, and they got it. And now you’ve heard it too.

You are without excuse, the Bible says. He is. He is God in the flesh. The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. It’s right here. Before Abraham was, I am. His glory, glory is of the only begotten from the father. He is the one who proceeds forth from the father and has come from the father. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him will not perish. He is the one who came to glorify the father by obeying him to the point of death. even the death on the cross. Therefore God halt, so highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Have you bowed the knee yet? Have you confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord yet? You will eventually.

Either in this life while he offers salvation to you, or when you stand before His judgment throne and that offer is no longer available. Kiss the Son, lest He become angry and you perish in the way. For His wrath may soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in Him. Don’t leave here today without knowing Him. And if you do know Him, if you’ve kissed the Son, if you’ve confessed Him as Lord, see the glory of John 8. I keep looking at this beautiful Savior, God in the flesh, here for us. How blessed are all those who take refuge in him. Count yourself blessed and rejoice with Abraham that you see his day.

Say with Isaiah, my eyes have seen the king. Yahweh of hosts. Stand with me and let’s close in a word of prayer. Our Father in Heaven. We tremble at the glory revealed in Jesus Christ. The only begotten of the Father. Full of grace and truth. You revealed your glory in Him. You gave him the name that is above every name so that we will bow and confess him as Lord. Because his wrath will soon be kindled. God, if there is anyone here today outside of him who does not know him, who has not come to Him yet. God, break their hearts. Break their will. Bring them to yourself.

That they may confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord. And believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead. Because there is no other name. under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved. We glorify you, because you have glorified yourself in your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.