Bypassing the Signpost
by Rev. Kirby Williams
The extraordinary relationship between Jesus, Abraham, and Redemptive History.
Text: John 8:56-59
Date: 11/12/2017, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 69
Description:
As the conversation in the temple draws to its dramatic close, the anger of the Jews finally reaches the boiling point and they pick up stones to put Jesus to death. The immediate reasons for the firestorm are two stunning statements He makes: first that He predates Abraham, and second that He is God Incarnate. These seemingly audacious claims are shocking enough in themselves, but we will dig beneath the surface to find that Jesus is actually making an even more far-reaching statement-- that He is the Seed of the woman and therefore the preeminent focus of all redemptive history who is infinitely greater than Abraham! With His eye ever on salvation, Jesus will reveal that the Jews have made the critical error of confusing the "signpost" with the "destination". We will ultimately recognize the underlying message that many signposts abound to point us to Jesus, but true salvation is only found by "bypassing the signposts" and reaching the spiritual destination of saving faith in Jesus the Christ as Lord and Savior!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 8:56-59.
A. Context
1. The two seeds.
2. The religiosity surrounding Abraham, John 8:33,39,51,52,53.
3. The preeminence and deity of Christ.
B. Jesus and Abraham.
1. Abraham's joy, vs. 56.
a. Clarifying paternity.
b. An all-inclusive "day", Phil. 1:10.
c. How could Abraham "see" Christ's "day"?
i. What it definitely does not mean, John 12:41.
ii. What it probably does mean.
¥ The promise, Gen. 12:3.
¥ The covenant, Gen. 15:5,6.
¥ The son of promise, Gen. 21:6.
¥ The joy of revelation.
iii. The two seeds, Heb. 11:13.
2. Another sarcastic response, vs. 57.
a. An obvious observation, Luke 3:23, Num 4:3.
b. Another back-handed response.
3. The preeminence of Christ, vs. 58.
a. A solemn declaration.
b. Predating Abraham's existence.
c. The claim of divinity.
i. The Greek words, John 8:24, 28.
ii. The Hebrew word, Ex. 3:13-14.
iii. The grammar, John 5:26, Gen. 25:7.
iv. The profound answer to the questions, John 8:53.
4. The angry response, vs. 59.
a. Taking the Law into their own hands, Lev. 24:16, John 2:20, 8:30-31.
b. Jesus leaves the temple, John 7:30,37, 8:12.
III. Interpretation
A. A most magnificent signpost.
1. Signposts that predates Abraham.
a. The Protevangelium.
b. The Covenant of Promise.
2. Signposts in the life of Abraham.
a. The promise of blessings.
b. The covenant of grace.
c. The faith of Abraham, Gen. 15:6.
d. The son of promise, Gen. 22:2,7,8, John 1:29.
B. The Preeminent Destination, John 1:1,14.
IV. Application
V. Conclusion
