What does John 8:56 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus was, of course, referring to Abraham as the physical ancestor of His hearers, not their spiritual father. The occasion of Abraham"s rejoicing, to which Jesus referred, is unclear. The commentators have suggested various incidents in his life that Moses recorded (i.e, Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:17-21; Genesis 17:17; Genesis 21:6; Genesis 22:5-14). I think the most likely possibility is Genesis 12:3, the prediction that God would bless the whole world through Abraham. In any case, Jesus said that Abraham anticipated His day. Jesus was claiming that He fulfilled what Abraham looked forward to. We need to be careful not to read back into Abraham"s understanding of the future what we know from revelation that God gave after Abraham died. Clearly Abraham did know that his seed would become the channel of God"s blessing to the entire world. [source][source]

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The Hebrew and Greek words translated "seed" (Heb. zera, Gr. sperma) are collective singulars, as is the English word. It is not clear from the word whether one or more seeds are in view. The Bible uses the phrase "seed of Abraham" to refer to four entities: Jesus Christ ( Galatians 3:16), Abraham"s spiritual children (believers, Galatians 4:6-9; Galatians 4:29), his physical descendents (the Jews, Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 12:7; et al.), and his physical and spiritual posterity (saved Jews, Romans 9:6; Romans 9:8; Galatians 6:16). [source][source]

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Context Summary

It is absolutely true that the Christian disciple does see death as the king of terrors or as a grim monster. Jesus has robbed death of its sting; He has destroyed Him that had the power of death. The moment of death is the moment of birth into a wider and happier existence. We are set free from this body of mortality and become possessed of the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. The grave is the vestibule of Paradise. We know that the iron gate opens into the city of God. Absent from the body, we are present with the Lord. The moment of transition is so desirable that it is only comparable to the falling asleep of the tired laborer.

The Father glorified His Son by the attestation given at the Baptism and the Transfiguration, by the Resurrection from the grave, by the Exaltation to His right hand. Yet these are but stages in the glorification of our High Priest. The full outburst of His glory is yet future. We shall behold the glory with which the Father has rewarded His obedience unto death; nay, we are to share it with Him. See John 17:22; John 17:24. Notice the I AM of John 8:58. Compare Exodus 3:14. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 8

¹  Jesus delivers the woman taken in adultery
¹²  He declares himself the light of the world, and justifies his doctrine;
³¹  promises freedom to those who believe;
³³  answers the Jews who boasted of Abraham;
⁴⁸  answers their reviling, by showing his authority and dignity;
⁵⁹  and slips away from those who would stone him