and the prophets as well, but you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never experience death.
’ Who do you claim to be? Do you claim to be greater than our father Abraham, who died?
And the prophets who also died?”
Then Jesus said, “If I were to praise myself, it would count for nothing. But he who gives
glory to me is the Father, the very one you claim as your God, although you don’t know
him. I know him, and if I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you.
But I know him and I keep his word.
As for Abraham, your ancestor, he looked forward to the day when I would come; and
he rejoiced when he saw it.”
The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?
” And Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” They then picked up
stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple.
Reflect
Abraham is a towering figure in the history of religion. He is known as the first person to
hold to the worship of one God and is regarded as the father of three religions: Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. But in spite of these grand credentials, I think of the Abraham we
see in Scripture. He models for us a trusting commitment to God.
Abraham was already a well-established adult when God called him to migrate from
Ur of the Chaldees to the land of Canaan. Abraham trusted and moved, along with his
entire household. Elderly and childless, he trusted when God promised that his descendants
would be too numerous to count and that he would be the father of many nations. Once again,
God fulfilled his promise. God called Abraham into a covenant and Abraham remained faithful
to that covenant throughout his life.
Yet, as Jesus tells us, we are even more favored than Abraham. God dwelt among us
as a human being and remains present with us in the gift of his Spirit. He calls us to be one
with him in his Body and to live with him forever in heaven.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023