22 March 2018 - beyond compare

Today's Readings (Audio)

Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death.

No one else but Jesus can make this claim. Only his words are living and effective. No one else has ever spoken like this man. The Pharisees quickly realize what this claim entails.

Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.

Death has, until now, been largely unavoidable. Sure, there are a few exceptions, like Enoch and Elijah who have been taken directly into heaven. But it is a fact that some of the holiest heroes of Israel still suffer death at the end of their lives. It might have been one thing to claim that Jesus himself would escape death. But to make his word the condition by which anyone in the world can escape death? This is radical. It is new. Yet it is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham.

I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

This promise was fulfilled in the past only partially. The reason is because we could only partially do our part

God also said to Abraham:
"On your part, you and your descendants after you
must keep my covenant throughout the ages."

Now finally, in Jesus, our part is performed perfectly. Finally the true blessings of the promise are unlocked. The covenant is unleashed.

But I do know him and I keep his word. 
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad.

Jesus exists when the promise is first made to Abraham. But Abraham dies before the blessings of the promise are received. Yet, somewhere, he still is able to see this day of Jesus that is at hand. He rejoices to know that the promise is not forgotten. He is glad that the day of salvation has finally come. 

He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.

Neither Abraham, nor Moses, nor David, nor Elijah could be the one. Only Jesus can give the words which allow us to never see death.

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM."