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The DEEP

The Central Claim of All Scripture

I AM.

John 8:48–59

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly 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. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”

Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”

Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall 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 and was glad.”

Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

So, which is worse? Saying someone is a Samaritan or saying he has a demon? In first century Jerusalem, that’s not an easy call.

Jesus just ignores the Samaritan crack (which doesn’t make sense anyway) and replies straight-up to the accusation that He has a demon. He’s getting close to the climax of this dialogue and He wants to get to it.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

There’s no question about it; He’s claiming to be the eternal creator of the world. And not just because He’s thousands of years old. He says “I AM” in a way that implies deity. That’s why it’s in all caps.

And if there’s any doubt about what He means, the crowd’s reaction settles it.

Then they took up stones to throw at Him.


Jesus’s claim to deity is the central claim of all of scripture. Understanding this (and believing it) are the keys to life. Many Christians think that the key is accepting Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins.

That’s nice, and an accurate view of the doctrine of justification, but the key is knowing who Jesus is.


These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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