Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
The words were spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles, in the morning after the evening sacrifice when the great lamp-stands had been kindled to light Jerusalem amid rejoicing, dancing, and music. That illumination commemorated the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert and expressed hope that the Messiah would come to shed His light upon Israel. As He spoke, Jesus pointed to the sun just risen above the Mount of Olives and shining upon the marble palaces and the gold of the temple walls.
In that temple discourse He presented Himself as the light of the world, the source of spiritual light who illumines the darkness of the world more truly than the temple lamps and even the sun His own hand had set in the heavens. To those who follow Him He promised the light of life.
The question was a challenge to His claim that keeping His word brings freedom from death, for the Jews pointed out that Abraham and the prophets had died. Comparing Him with Abraham, they demanded to know whom He made Himself and whether He claimed to be greater than Abraham. The challenge showed unbelief, for though they claimed Abraham as their father, they rejected His claim to have existed before Abraham and sought to stone Him. Yet Abraham's test of faith when commanded to offer his son had opened before him the coming of Christ as the Lamb slain for humanity's sins, so that by faith Abraham saw the incarnate Savior and rejoiced.
The words were spoken in the court of the temple in connection with the services of the Feast of Tabernacles, in the morning after the evening sacrifice when the great lamp-stands had been kindled to light Jerusalem amid rejoicing, dancing, and music. That illumination commemorated the pillar of light that guided Israel in the desert and expressed hope that the Messiah would come to shed His light upon Israel. As He spoke, Jesus pointed to the sun just risen above the Mount of Olives and shining upon the marble palaces and the gold of the temple walls.
In that temple discourse He presented Himself as the light of the world, the source of spiritual light who illumines the darkness of the world more truly than the temple lamps and even the sun His own hand had set in the heavens. To those who follow Him He promised the light of life.
The question was a challenge to His claim that keeping His word brings freedom from death, for the Jews pointed out that Abraham and the prophets had died. Comparing Him with Abraham, they demanded to know whom He made Himself and whether He claimed to be greater than Abraham. The challenge showed unbelief, for though they claimed Abraham as their father, they rejected His claim to have existed before Abraham and sought to stone Him. Yet Abraham's test of faith when commanded to offer his son had opened before him the coming of Christ as the Lamb slain for humanity's sins, so that by faith Abraham saw the incarnate Savior and rejoiced.