Never See Death!

Never see death! As Jesus continued His conversation with the Jewish leaders, He totally astounded them with His latest proclamation!

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
(John 8:51-59, King James Version)

As we continue to read Jesus' conversation with the Jewish leaders, we see where everything falls apart for the Jews. In their estimation, Jesus has really stepped over the line now. Jesus told them that if a man kept His sayings he would not see death.

"Wait a minute," the Jewish leaders said, "Abraham and the prophets have all died. How then can you say that those who believe in you will never die? Are you greater than Abraham and the prophets?"

Jesus said, "I know Abraham, and he rejoiced to see my day!"

"How can you know him," they replied, "You are not even 50 years old; how can you have seen Abraham?"

How did Jesus answer?

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Notice, He said, "Before Abraham was, I am."

That was the last straw - the Jews took up stones to kill Him. But, it was not Christ's time to die, so He miraculously slipped away.

What did God call Himself in the Old Testament, when Moses asked His name? I Am. If there were any doubts before, it was clear that Jesus was telling them that He is God. No wonder He could claim that those who believed in Him would never see death!

Is this still a controversy in our day? This is the chief controversy in the world of religion today. Who was Jesus? Was He a good man--even a great prophet, or was He and is He God? Do not assume anything. Go to your pastor or religious leader, and ask him/her about Jesus Christ. What do they believe about Jesus? Is it true that they will never see death?

Only in Christ Jesus, Son of God, and Son of Man will we never see death!

Next: Work the Works, John 9:1-4