1. Christ's Age

• Jesus' bold claim.

• "Your father"

• "Rejoiced" has the idea of being "overjoyed."

• This probably does not refer to a single event in Abraham's life.

• It likely refers to his life once he believed the precious promise God gave to him. (Gen.12:3).

• The word "My day" refer to the age (coming) of the Messiah.

2. Christ shocked and upset the Jews by His bold claim.

The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" (Jno. 8:57).

• The Jews are not suggesting Jesus was near 50 years of age.

• They responded by saying He was not even 50 years old - not even an elder or one entering His senior years.

3. Christ's age is determined by counting the Passovers after the beginning of His ministry.

• Christ was about 30 when He began His ministry. (Lk. 3:23).

• There were 3 or 4 Passovers during Christ's ministry.

• John 2:13

• John 5:1 is assumed to be a Passover.

• It is not called a Passover feast.

• It could have been the feast of tabernacles, the feast of Pentecost, the Passover, or some other feast.

• John 6:4

• John 11:55

• The ministry of Christ was about 21/2 to 31/2 years depending on the number of Passovers.

• Christ was about 32 or 33 at the time claimed to be before Abraham.

• Observe the way the Jews twisted the words of Jesus.

• Christ said Abraham saw His day.

• They affirmed Christ said He saw Abraham.

Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (Jno. 8:58).

1. He was before Abraham. (Jno. 8:58).

• Jesus affirmed He existed before "Abraham was born."

• He used the words "I am," not "I was."

• This infuriated the multitude.

• They interpreted Jesus' statement as a claim to Deity.

• Since they viewed Jesus as a man, this was tantamount to blasphemy.

"Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple." (Jno. 8:59).

2. He was before the "world was." (Jno. 17:5).

3. He was before all creation. (Jno. 1:1-3).

• The fact He "was God" means He is eternal.

• Deity does not have a beginning.

• No one has made God.

• It is explicitly stated He created "all things."

• Since everything that has been made was made through Jesus, it means He was not made.

• He has always been.

• Colossians 1:15-17 supports these conclusions.

• Christ is called "the firstborn" of creation.

• This word means before and it denotes superiority or pre-eminence.

• Christ was before all creation. (Col.1:17).

• Christ was and is superior over all creation. (Matt. 28:18).

1. Jesus is called the "beginning" of creation. (Rev. 3:14).

• The word "beginning" does not mean Christ was created.

• It means Christ is the source or cause of creation.

2. Christ is eternal. (1 Jno. 1:1,2; Isa. 9:6,7).

1. Christ was about 32 or 33 years old when He made His bold statement.

2. Jesus was pre-existent.

3. Jesus was Deity, eternal, and the Creator of all things.

• It means Christ is the source or cause of creation.

• Christ is eternal. (1 Jno. 1:1,2; Isa. 9:6,7).