The Eternal Nature of Jesus

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Reading: John 8:48-59

Reflection: Jesus makes an amazing statement as He testifies concerning Himself. In fact, the testimony seemed so fantastic that those who heard it decided that Jesus must be giving false testimony and deserved death? What was that testimony? Simply stated, Jesus states that His beginning preceded His earthly birth...that His life did not begin in the womb, in fact, it didn't really begin at all. Why? Because just like God, Jesus is eternal and as such has no beginning nor ending of days.

We see that in this text when Jesus argues that He not only saw Abraham during the days of Abraham's life, but actually knows that Abraham looked forward to the day of Jesus with great joy. This amazed those who heard it, because in order for Jesus to know this, he had to be alive and present. This is not possible given the passage of time. However. it is possible if Jesus is eternal. The failure of those listening to Jesus is their false assumption that Jesus was not eternal.

Now, we could get into all kinds of consequences to the reality of the eternal nature of Jesus. But for me, one practical consequence is that just as Jesus saw Abraham, so He sees me. He knows my life situation, my inner desires and joys, and is fully able to intervene and direct my life just as He did the disciples. Personally, I thank God that He is with me, so that even in my most lonely and isolated moments I know that I am not alone...that Jesus is present...and He is able to give me help and hope! Thank God!