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I. THE GREATNESS OF ABRAHAM:

1. The ancestor of the Jews. "Our father," said they (ver. 53); "Your father," conceded Christ (ver. 56). It was no small distinction to be the progenitor of so renowned a race.

2. The father of the faithful. He believed in God's promise (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:20), and became the head of a spiritual progeny who will far outnumber the natural.

3. A conqueror of death. Christ's word (ver. 51) signified that to all His believing people, who were Abraham's children, and therefore to Abraham himself who had kept God's word, death was practically abolished (Matthew 22:32).

4. A beholder of Christ's day. Not an exultant anticipator, but an actual witness either prophetically from Moriah or from Paradise.

II. THE SUPERIORITY OF JESUS.

1. Of loftier calling. Abraham, a prophet; Christ, a Saviour; Abraham, the ancestor of the promised seed; Christ, the promised seed; Abraham, the progenitor of Christ, according to the flesh; Christ, the redeemer of Abraham, according to the Spirit. The Jews exulted in their physical connection with Abraham; Abraham in his spiritual connection with Christ.

2. Of nobler name. Abraham, a servant; Christ, the Son. Abraham called the Divine Being "God"; Christ addressed Him as "Father."

3. Of older existence. Abraham was not before He came into this world; Christ was before Abraham was born.

4. Of higher being. Abraham began to be; Christ always was. Abraham was a creature; Christ the Creator, "I am."Lessons:

1. The Supreme Divinity of Christ.

2. The power of faith.

3. The certainty of existence after death.

4. The true secret of soul joy.

5. The one object of faith in all ages and for all peoples — Christ's day.

(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)

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KJV: Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

WEB: Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'