Lent · The Fifth Sunday in Lent (Judica)
John 8:(42-45) 46-59
Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders
March 22, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)
Jesus’ third public announcement at the Feast of Tabernacles took place on the last and greatest day of the Feast (v. 37). It is perhaps the most remembered and certainly the most widely discussed saying in Jesus’ temple discourse if not in the entire Gospel. Of the nineteen articles on John 7 listed in the bibliography of Raymond Brown’s major commentary, seventeen deal with verses 37–39! ( The Gospel According to John , AB 29A [New York: Doubleday, 1966], p. 331). This is attributable both to the intrinsic appeal of Jesus’ words and to the unique combination of difficulties in knowing how they should be heard or read. Verses 37–39 might be plausibly understood in any of at least three ways:
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Commentary
Enduring Word Commentary, John 8 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on the temple confrontation climaxing in Before Abraham was, I am.
John 8:46 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on Jesus's challenge over sin, truth, and the charge of a demon.
John 8 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin
Word studies and cross references on the I am claim and the crowd taking up stones.
John 8:48-59 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on Jesus claiming eternity and the divine name.
John 8 (Word on Fire) Word on Fire · Bishop Barron
Bishop Barron's Catholic reflections on Jesus's divine self-disclosure at the temple.
Background & Word Study
John | Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Background on John's Gospel and its conflict narratives at the festivals.
Overview: John BibleProject
Animated overview of John's design and Jesus's I am statements.
John 8:46 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for the dispute and the climactic ego eimi.
YHWH / LORD BibleProject
Explores the divine name behind Jesus's claim Before Abraham was, I am.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why do the leaders take up stones?
As the dispute sharpens, Jesus claims the divine name I AM, and they seize stones, the shadow of the cross falling across the Lenten road.
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