John 8:56
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus reveals that Abraham's "seeing" wasn't just a future hope but a past experience where he actively "saw it and was glad." This implies Abraham had a profound, prophetic encounter with Jesus' future work, making his gladness more than just anticipation but a fulfillment of his faith.
Jesus has just asserted His divine origin and eternal existence, claiming to be "before Abraham was." The Jewish leaders, unable to grasp this, have become enraged. Jesus then uses Abraham's own anticipation of "His day"—the time of Christ's coming—as a way to highlight their own rejection of the Messiah who stands before them.
Jesus contrasts the patriarch's eager anticipation with His listeners' present rejection. What did Abraham long for, and how does this speak to us today?
Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that Abraham longed to see "My day." This wasn't just a casual wish; the Greek word used for "rejoiced" (ēgalliasato) suggests an exultant, leaping joy.
The Object of Abraham's Joy
Jesus declares not only that Abraham longed to see His day but that he did see it and was glad. How is this possible, and what does it reveal about the connection between heaven and earth?
Jesus' statement, "He saw it and was glad," points to a fulfillment that goes beyond Abraham's earthly life. It speaks to a reality in the spiritual realm.
Seeing Beyond the Veil
Understand the original words
Abraam · Greek Proper Noun
Refers to the Jewish patriarch, the father of the faith, chosen by God to be the recipient of the covenant promises, including the promise that through his offspring all nations would be blessed.
hēmera · Greek Noun
Refers to the time of the Messiah's manifestation, His ministry, and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God, which was the focus of prophetic anticipation.
Jesus is asserting His divine identity by connecting Himself to Abraham's deepest hope, revealing that Abraham rejoiced in faith to see the day of the Messiah, a day that Jesus is now fulfilling.
c. 2000 BC
God's Promise to Abraham
God promises Abraham that through his offspring all nations will be blessed, establishing a covenant and laying the foundation for a future salvation.
c. 1800 BC
The Binding of Isaac
Abraham offers his son Isaac as a sacrifice, a pivotal event foreshadowing God's ultimate sacrifice for humanity.
c. 1400 BC
The Exodus and Law
The Israelites are liberated from Egypt and receive the Law, establishing their identity as God's people and setting the stage for future prophets and kings.
c. 1000 BC
The Davidic Covenant
God promises David that his descendant will rule forever, further solidifying the Messianic lineage.
c. 750-600 BC
Prophetic Visions of the Messiah
This passage directly records God promising Abraham numerous descendants, stating 'So shall your offspring be,' which Abraham believed. This faith is what Jesus points to as Abraham's joyful anticipation of Christ's coming through his lineage.
Galatians 3:8Paul explains that the Gospel was preached to Abraham beforehand, stating 'The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”' This shows Abraham's forward-looking faith, aligning with Jesus' statement.
Hebrews 11:13This chapter highlights Abraham as a hero of faith, stating he 'died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.' This describes the very 'seeing' and 'rejoicing' Jesus refers to, albeit from a distance.
Luke 10:24Jesus tells His disciples that many prophets and kings desired to see what they were seeing (the unfolding of God's kingdom through Jesus) but did not. This places Abraham's desire and sight of Christ's 'day' within a larger biblical narrative of divine revelation.
John 1:4This verse states that 'In him was life, and the life was the light of men.' This connects Jesus' 'day' to His very essence as the source of life and light, the ultimate revelation that Abraham, by faith, was able to see and rejoice in.
jfbJohn 8:56: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad."
- Abraham rejoiced to see my day, &c.—exulted, or exceedingly rejoiced that he should see, he exulted to see it, that is, by anticipation. Nay,he saw it, and was glad—he actually beheld it, to his joy. If this mean no more than that he had a prophetic foresight of the gospel-day—the second clause just repeating the first—how could the Jews understand our Lord to mean that He "had seen Abraham?" And if it mea…
calvinJohn 8:56-59: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad."
Your father Abraham exulted to see my day; and he saw it and rejoiced. 57. The Jews then said to him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58. Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am. 59. Then they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus concealed himself, and went out of the temple.
Your father Abraham. He grants to them, in words only, w…
Jesus reveals that Abraham's "seeing" wasn't just a future hope but a past experience where he actively "saw it and was glad." This implies Abraham had a profound, prophetic encounter with Jesus' future work, making his gladness more than just anticipation but a fulfillment of his faith.
Jesus has just asserted His divine origin and eternal existence, claiming to be "before Abraham was." The Jewish leaders, unable to grasp this, have become enraged. Jesus then uses Abraham's own anticipation of "His day"—the time of Christ's coming—as a way to highlight their own rejection of the Messiah who stands before them.
Jesus has just asserted His divine origin and eternal existence, claiming to be "before Abraham was." The Jewish leaders, unable to grasp this, have become enraged. Jesus then uses Abraham's own anticipation of "His day"—the time of Christ's coming—as a way to highlight their own rejection of the Messiah who stands before them.
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Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah describe the coming Messiah, His suffering, and His future kingdom, which many righteous people long to see.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins His public ministry, proclaiming the kingdom of God and performing miracles, fulfilling Messianic prophecies.
c. AD 30
Confrontation and Revelation
During a confrontation in the temple, Jesus declares His pre-existence and divine identity, causing His Jewish listeners to react with anger and attempt to stone Him.
"Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”" — Jesus reveals that Abraham's "seeing" wasn't just a future hope but a past experience where he actively "saw it and was glad." This implies Abraham had a profound, prophetic encounter with Jesus' fut…
