Gospel: John 8:51-59

 

Whoever keeps the word of Jesus will not see death. Jesus makes a solemn affirmation; the prophets said: “Oracle of the Lord!” Jesus says: “Truly, I say to you!” And the solemn affirmation is the following: “Whoever keeps My word will not see death!” This same theme appears and reappears many times in the Gospel of John. These are words of a great depth. Notice how the prophets speak on behalf of God, but Jesus speaks in the first person with authority as God!

 

The reaction of the Jews is immediate. They did not understand the importance and significance of the affirmation of Jesus. It was a dialogue of the deaf.

 

Once again and as always Jesus hits on the same key: He is so united to the Father that everything that He says or does is His. 

 

These words of Jesus must have been like a sword which wounded the self-esteem of the Jews. To tell the religious authority: “You do not know the God whom you say you know” it is like accusing them of total ignorance exactly regarding the theme on which they think they are specialized doctors. 

 

But they took everything literally, thus showing that they did not understand anything of what Jesus was saying. And Jesus makes another solemn affirmation: "In all truth I tell you: before Abraham ever was, I AM”. For those who believe in Jesus, here we reach the heart of the mystery of the story. Once again, they pick up stones to kill Jesus. But neither this time will they succeed, because His hour has not as yet come. The one who determines the hour is Jesus himself.