8:52-58

"At this the Jews exclaimed, 'Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? he died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?'

Jesus replied, 'If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 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 keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.'

'You are not yet 50 years old,' the Jews said to him, 'and you have seen Abraham!'

'I tell you the truth, ' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!' At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."

Pondering Point

Before Abraham was born, I am!!!

This is one of the most powerful statements uttered by Jesus.

When he said that he existed before Abraham was born,

he undeniably proclaimed his divinity.

Here he also applied God's holy name

(I Am - Exodus 3:14) to himself.

The Jewish leaders were ready to stone Jesus for claiming to be God.