The Claim of Christ

Sunday Morning Message

August 31, 2025

John 8:48-59

The Claim of Christ

 

Intro:

Good morning church! 

 

Things taken out of are easy to misapply, misconstrue, and .

 

John 7

 

 

John 8

 

 

John 8:23-24 “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

 

John 8:31b-32 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

We all need to we don’t as much as we think we .

 

 

Our understanding will always fail to grasp the .

 

Message:

John 8:48-59 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

 

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

 

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

 

Three focuses from our passage:

 

1. His

John 8:48-51 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

 

John 8:49  “I am not possessed by a demon,”

 

 

 Augustine 430ad: “For Samaritan means keeper. He knew that He was our keeper. For He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; and, Except the Lord keep the city, they wake in vain who keep it. He then is our Keeper who is our Creator. For did it belong to Him to redeem us, and would it not be His to preserve us?”

 

John 8:51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

 

It is a to us but a promise by Christ!

 

2. His

John 8:52-56 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

 

John 8:54-55 “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him.

 

 

John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 

 

2 Peter 3:9b  “…he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”

 

Even though Christ possesses all glory, he was and .

 

3. His

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

 

The points to Christ!

 

 

John 8:58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

 

Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

 

 

Before Abraham was born ! This is the of Christ!

 

Who is the I AM in our passage:

• All Knowing
• Sovereign
• Holy
• Humble
• Truthful

 

 

We cannot conflate our character to God’s character. Because, while we aim to do in the likeness of our Lord and Savior, He is, in and of himself, the very things we aspire towards.

 

1 John 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love“.

 

God is : 2 Peter 3:9 

God is : 1 John 4:8

God is : Luke 6:36

God is : Hebrews 6:18

God is : Psalm 34:8

 

 

Altar Call

Prayer

Worship

Dismissal