Truth — Week 1 – Friday
TODAY’S VERSE
John 8:58
Jesus said to them,”Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (ESV)
Imagine having a normal conversation with someone at an event or even a local coffee shop. They seem super friendly, easy to talk to, and completely ordinary. You talk about work, life, and maybe even share a few opinions. Then someone walks up to you and says, “Do you know who that is?” That’s happened to me before.
When I was serving as a graduate assistant to the Director of Basketball Operations at New Mexico, I knew Bobby Knight was coming in to be a guest speaker. I had seen pictures of him and watched him coach on the sidelines at Indiana. So, I thought I’d know what he looked like. But when I ran into him before the event, I wasn’t completely sure it was him.
What I quickly realized was that my perception of Knight didn’t match reality. I always pictured him as a smaller guy, but in person, he was massive. My perception was genuine, as you all know, because as a Kentucky basketball fan, Indiana basketball has always been our little brother, like Louisville.
What I will tell you about that encounter is that there’s no wonder the kids who played for him at Indiana feared for their lives! He wouldn’t have to say much. The look is enough. He was all business. However, I must say, all in all, he was a nice guy off the court, or at least that day in our brief conversation. One thing I did learn was that he loved to fly fish.
I must admit, after I realized who he was, this brief interaction felt different. Nothing about him changed. Only my understanding of who I was talking with changed.
That’s exactly what happens in John 8:58 to a crowd of people when Jesus revealed His true identity by saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
Jesus wasn’t just making a claim about age. Instead, it was a claim about identity. “I AM” after all was the name God revealed to Moses in Exodus as He was speaking through the burning bush. By using this phrase, Jesus was declaring something extraordinary. You see, He wasn't just a teacher. He wasn’t just a prophet. He was claiming to be God Himself. That is why the crowd here reacted so strongly.
They would have understood exactly what He meant. And this claim in that moment would have forced everyone to make a personal decision regarding what they believed to be true or not about Jesus.
Today, you have that same opportunity to choose what you believe about Jesus. You see, Jesus was not simply just a wise teacher or helpful guide. He is exactly who He claimed to be: God in the flesh. His words about truth and freedom are not merely suggestions. They are reality.
Nothing about Coach Knight changed when I realized who he was; only my understanding of who I was talking with changed. The same is true with Jesus. But when we recognize who Jesus truly is, everything does change. Why? Because Jesus isn’t simply a man like Coach Knight. Instead, Jesus is the great “I AM,” which makes knowing Him the most important thing in life.
APPLICATION
Take time today to reflect on this question: Who is Jesus to me personally? Not culturally. Not historically. Personally. Spend time thanking Him for revealing Himself through Scripture and asking Him to deepen your faith.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank You for revealing who You truly are. Help me to trust You more deeply and follow You more faithfully. Help me to understand the truth from Your perspective. Shape my life around the truth of who You are. Amen.