John 8:12-59: Jesus Doubles and Triples Down on his Divine Identity

On the heels of proclaiming that he is Living Water, Jesus now doubles down on his divine identity and proclaims, "I am the Light of the World.” This challenges the Pharisees and, once again, exposes their unbelief. As He reveals the truth that sets sinners free, the tension builds but Jesus’ triples down with a bold declaration, "Before Abraham was, I am.” Now that he has clearly revealed his divine identity, His opponents become enraged and ready to stone Him.

The Rev. Sean Smith, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, TN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study John 8:12-59.

The Gospel of John takes us on a journey through the Good News of Jesus in a unique way. It reveals Jesus as the incarnate son of God from eternity. From His miraculous signs to His profound "I Am" statements, we witness Jesus offering living water to the thirsty, light to those in darkness, and life to the dead. But this is also a story of conflict: Jesus is relentlessly pursued by those who reject Him, yet He willingly goes to the cross, showing the depths of God’s love. As we travel from His first miracle to His ultimate victory over death, John invites us to see and believe—that in Jesus, we find eternal life and the very presence of God among us. Connect to God’s revealing Word in this series that uncovers the rich, layered truths of John’s Gospel and the unshakable hope it offers.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.