I Was Before Abraham 

[48] The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" [49] Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. [50] Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. [51] Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." [52] The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ''If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'' [53] Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?" [54] Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ''He is our God.'' [55] But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." [57] So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" [58] Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." [59] So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

-John 8:48-59 (ESV)  

This passage of scripture further shows us the widening gap between Jesus and the Jews of his day. Jesus came unto his own and his own received him not. Jesus' constant confrontation of the condition of their hearts and his legitimate claims to his divinity constantly infuriated the religious crowd of Jesus day.

It is interesting that religion would rather hold onto tradition and a belief system that affirms its passed down heritage, than to embrace the reality that many things they held firm were simply the traditions of their fathers passed down and not really from God at all.

Is it not the same today? When Jesus declares his sovereign purpose and divine working in our lives, do we not all, at least to some level, find ourselves white knuckling things that we hold sacred? It is not the case that many of things we hold value in bears any real obvious threat to others. It is rather the reality that many of these traditions of men challenge the I Am-ness of God in our lives.

It is strange that men fight over and for what they believe when the Gospel is not really about what I believe but rather WHO I BELIEVE. Jesus is the source of all that you and I find ourselves to be, yet I find that many of the beliefs and traditions I grip tightly alienate me from deep relational workings from the Spirit of God.

May the Lord help us to see him and grip him and willingly release anything that would keep us from really knowing Jesus and obeying his word.