Gospel Reading:  John 8:51-59

51 For sure, I tell you, if anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die."

 52 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died. The early preachers died. You say, 'If anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the early preachers died. Who do You think You are?" 54 Jesus said, "If I honor Myself, My honor would be worth nothing. My Father honors Me. You say He is your God. 55 You have never known Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know the Father and obey His Word. 56 Your father Abraham was glad that he was to see My coming. He saw it and was happy."

 57 The Jews said to Jesus, "You are not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "For sure, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I was and am and always will be!"

 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at Him. Jesus hid Himself *and left the house of God.

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 17:3-9

3 Then Abram fell on his face. God said to him, 4 "See, My agreement is with you. You will be the father of many nations. 5 No more will your name be Abram. But your name will be Abraham. For I will make you the father of many nations. 6 Many will come from you. I will make nations of you. Kings will come from you. 7 I will make My agreement between Me and you and your children after you through their whole lives for all time. I will be God to you and to your children's children after you.

Meditation: When the Jews asked Jesus who do you claim to be? he answered, "before Abraham was, I am." Jesus claims to be timeless and there is only one in the universe who is timeless, namely God. Scripture tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus was not just a man who came, lived, died, and then rose again. He is the immortal timeless One, who always was and always will be. In Jesus we see the eternal God in visible flesh. His death and rising make it possible for us to share in his eternal life. Do you live in the hope and joy of the resurrection?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, let your word be on my lips and in my heart that I may walk in the freedom of your truth and love."

Psalm 105:4-9

4 Look for the Lord and His strength. Look for His face all the time.
 5 Remember the great and powerful works that He has done. Keep in mind what He has decided and told us,
 6 O children of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
 7 He is the Lord our God. What He has decided is in all the earth.

 8 He has remembered His agreement forever, the promise He made to last through a thousand families-to-come,
 9 the agreement that He made with Abraham, and His promise to Isaac.