Gospel in Art: Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am

Abraham's Journey from Ur to Canaan, by József Molnár © Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 30 March 2023
John 8:51-59

Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.'

The Jews said to him, 'Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, "Whoever keeps my word will never taste death." Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?' Jesus answered, 'If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, "He is our God", though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.'

Then the Jews said to him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?' Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.' So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Reflection on the painting

In the lead up to Holy Week, Jesus continues to reveal his true identity. Here Jesus declares himself to be God, by stating that he lived before Abraham lived, thus revealing his divine nature. This is another one of the great "I am's"of Jesus. It was inconceivable to the Jewish people that anyone could be greater than Abraham. But that is exactly what Jesus tells them today. In the course of his reply Jesus says, 'I tell you solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I am'.

We feel the tensions building up towards the crucifixion. For making claims such as today's claim, the Jewish rulers consider Jesus a very real threat to their power and their authority. They cannot let him continue to teach and attract more and more followers. Something has to be done about Him… Jesus knows that the time is drawing near, and so his teachings become more and more intense, straight-to-the-point and urgent.

Abraham (whose name means 'father of many'), is one of the most jointly beloved figures of Jews, Christians and Muslims. We all somehow see ourselves as proud descendants of Abraham: Jews identify Abraham as their founding father, we Christians trace the lineage of Jesus Christ back to him, and Muslims revere him as a friend of God, a father of the prophets, and an ancestor of the Prophet Mohammed.

The sacred scriptures of Islam, Christianity and Judaism refer to Abraham as a "friend of God" and all that he holds dear in life: his family, people, flora, fauna, indeed the entire creation itself. Our painting by Hungarian artist József Molnár depicts Abraham's journey from Ur to Canaan, surrounded by camels, sheep, a donkey, his family, shepherded and an expansive landscape in the background.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-8-51-59-2023/