The Transfer of the Relics (1087) of Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari; Holy Prophet Isaiah (8th c. BC); Holy Martyr Christopher (249-51).
Polyeleos Feast.
Acts 12:25-13:12; Hebrews 13:17-21; John 8:51-59; Luke 6:17-23.
Read John 8:51-59
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Today’s gospel is part of a long argument between Jesus and the Jewish leaders (by the way, the Gospel of John refers to these people simply as “the Jews” but some translations and commentators will add the word “leader” or some other qualifier. This makes a distinction between the group of Jews hostile to Jesus and the Jewish people more generally, which included the disciples and Jesus himself). A big part of the argument was the contrast between Jesus’ claim to be sent from God and the leaders’ claim to be children of Abraham. Jesus calls this claim into question: the “Jews” aren’t legitimate descendants of the righteous Abraham since they don’t follow his moral example; in fact, they are trying to kill Jesus. In response, the Jewish leaders accuse Jesus of being a demon-possessed Samaritan.
This explains the hostile response to Jesus’ words in today’s gospel: “if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jewish leaders misunderstand this statement as a claim that Jesus will never die. But Jesus will die, like Abraham and the prophets. This is foreshadowed not only in the failed attempt to stone Jesus, but also in the reference to the death of the prophets, an ironic comparison since the prophets were often killed by those who rejected their message.
When we keep in mind that Jesus’ freely lays down his life on the cross, we start to see the answer to the hostile question, “Who do you claim to be?” Jesus proves his claim to be sent from the Father by accepting his death, his “day” which Abraham saw in joy.
This helps answer our own questions about who Jesus is. When you doubt Jesus, look to his cross. When you start to wonder if he was sent by the Father, see how he gives his life for you. If you doubt his power to make you a righteous descendant of Abraham, remember that the “day” that Abraham saw was the first Good Friday, when Jesus gave his life on the cross. Jesus is the one sent by God: the proof is that he has come to give his life for us.