** "Before Abraham Was Born, I Am! **

. . . at this the Jews exclaimed,
"Now we know that You are demon-possessed!
Abraham died and so did the prophets,
yet You say that if anyone keeps Your Word,
he will never taste death.
Are You greater than our father Abraham?
He died, and so did the prophets.
Who do You think You are?"

Jesus replied, "If I glorify Myself,
My glory means nothing.
My Father, whom you claim as your God,
is the one who glorifies Me.
Though you do not know Him,
I know Him.
If I said I did not,
I would be a liar like you,
but I do know Him and keep His Word.
Your father Abraham rejoiced
at the thought of seeing My day;
he saw it and was glad."

"You are not yet fifty years old,"
the Jews said to Him,
and You have seen Abraham!"

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered,
"before Abraham was born, I am!"
At this, they picked up stones to stone Him,
but Jesus hid Himself,
slipping away from the temple grounds.

(John 8:52-59)