Written by Paul J Bucknell on March, 25, 2022

John 8:52-59 Abraham Saw Jesus’ Day

John 8:52-59

A study of the Old Testament event that Jesus alluded to when Abraham saw Him.

What event does Jesus refer to in John 8:56 when He says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad?”

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56) ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” ⁵⁹ Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:55-59)

I’ve taught Genesis many times over the last few decades but have been puzzled by which event(s) Jesus is referring to in John 8:56. This study has helped me gain some clarity. I am now confident to identify which of Abraham’s many life events Jesus refers.

Typically, I get caught up with Jesus’ teaching in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” This is one of John’s famous uses of Jesus’ “I am” statements, scattered throughout his Gospel.

But to be frank, we need to recognize that the LORD GOD’s revelation of Himself as the great “I am that I am” only came later in Exodus 3. (Check out the article at the end.) The LORD revealed that truth about Himself to Moses about 500 years after Abraham.

I will take you with me as I scan all the chapters about Abraham, from Genesis 12 to 23, to see if we can narrow down which life event(s) Jesus referred to when saying, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day.” Clearly, Jesus had information outside the Scriptures, but He spoke to the Jews, and He undoubtedly limited His discussion to common reference points with them (i.e., the Scriptures).

Scanning through Genesis for Significant Passages about Abraham

What passage(s) was Jesus referring to?

The first thing I did was to note all the possible Genesis chapter events that Jesus’ comment could have referred to. I dismissed the last chapters, Genesis 23-25, off, for though they refer to Abraham, the discussion turns to Isaac, Sarah’s death, and events after Isaac, the promised son’s death. The possible events are listed below by chapter.
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Observations of “the angel of the LORD”

Genesis 12: Abram’s calling and move to Egypt.
Genesis 13: Abram called on God in Bethel, separated from Lot; Yahweh promised to give Abram many descendants.
Genesis 14: Abram defeated kings; Melchizedek blessed him.
Genesis 15: The LORD promised Abram a son; rewarded his faith, made a covenant with Abram, and mentioned 400 years in another land.
Genesis 16: Abram compromised with Hagar, resulting in Ishmael.
Genesis 17: God further blessed Abraham and commanded Abraham to circumcise his sons.
Genesis 18: The LORD promised Isaac’s birth when visiting Abraham; shared about His purposes in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19: Related the doom of Sodom; Lot’s escape.
Genesis 20: Abraham moved into Gerar; treacherously treated Sarah again, saying she is his sister.
Genesis 21: Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac; sent Hagar away; Abimelech made a covenant with Abraham.
Genesis 22: Abraham offered up Isaac on Mount Moriah; the angel of the LORD intervened and provided.
Genesis 23: Sarah’s death; bought burial site in Canaan.
Genesis 24: Abraham is old and finds a wife for Isaac.
Genesis 25: Abraham’s death at 175 years old; Ishmael’s line.

I planned to go through each chapter, discussing each event as highlighted above, but an insight suggested skipping that tedious examination.

I connected the “I am” statement in Exodus 3:14 with the angel of the LORD. Does Genesis use this exact phrase? Theologians call these appearances of “the angel of the LORD” a theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. So I took this ‘shortcut,’ hoping it might give us a clue since Jesus used this phrase “I am” to describe Himself in our John 8 passage.

The term “The angel of the LORD” is used seven times in Genesis, Genesis 16 (4 times); Genesis 22 (2 times); Genesis 24 (1 time), and once in Exodus—3:14. Most commentators agree this specialized term refers to Christ’s theophany even in these cases. We can skip over Genesis 22 where it speaks about Ishmael. Still, the two references in Genesis 22 cite a vitally important section where “the angel of the LORD” calls to Abraham and intervenes in the sacrifice of Abraham’s only son, Isaac.

“¹⁰ Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹² He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” ¹³ Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. ¹⁴ Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”

¹⁵ Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, ¹⁶ and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies…” (Genesis 22:10-17).

To summarize, I have skipped over the many God-Abram Genesis events to focus on the phrase, “The angel of the LORD”—a clear term for the pre-incarnate appearances of Christ. We narrow our search down to this one event in Genesis 22 because it records Christ’s, alias the angel of the LORD, meeting with Abraham. Although Abraham also uses the term “His angel” in Genesis 24:7, it doesn’t refer to an actual event as in Genesis 22.

Jesus looked back at the time Abraham offered His son.

The Full Picture of “I am” in Exodus 3:14

I propose that Jesus referred to the Mount Moriah event in John 8:56, when He, the Angel of the LORD, spoke to Abraham twice (Gen 22:11, 15). After looking at Jesus’ “I am” statement in John 8 and its origin in Exodus 3:14, we will return to John 8 with a fuller contextual explanation.

“The angel of the Lord” (Exodus 3:2)

Moses experienced a dramatic event of God’s appearance and his calling in Exodus 3 at the burning bush. Early on, in verse 2, the Scriptures reveal that it is “The angel of the LORD” that speaks to Moses. This is the eighth usage in the Law, following the seven times it’s used in Genesis. Interestingly, it’s the only time it’s referred to in Exodus.

“The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed” (Exodus 3:2).

Of great interest is that the term, “The angel of the LORD” is afterwards more simply annotated as “The LORD” (3:4,7) but also with God (3:6).

“He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6).

In verse 14, we see the self-description of the LORD (i.e., Yahweh), “I am who I am,”—the reference that Jesus identified himself within John 8. In Exodus 3:14, like in John 8, God describes Himself forming a scriptural identification of “the angel of the LORD.”

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex 3:14).

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”” (John 8:58)

The three terms—“The angel of the LORD,” “The LORD,” and “God”, then, in conclusion, are interchangeable.

The usage of “The angel of the LORD” in Genesis 22 is linked to Exodus 3 where Jehovah reveals Himself also as “The angel of the LORD,” as well as the “I am.” It does not refer to an angel but to God Himself.

Jesus and Abraham (John 8:52-56)

This brings us back to Jesus’ conversation with the Jews at the end of John 8. Jesus answers the Jew’s question, “Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died?” (John 8:53) They had also mentioned Abraham’s death in the previous verse (52).

It’s here that Jesus poignantly declares His true identity, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). I believe this interlinking of “the angel of the LORD” in Genesis 22 is the event Jesus alludes to. It makes sense.

Jesus came to save mankind. He was the lamb that would be offered for the sins of the world. John the Baptist testifies, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Abraham gained insight into God’s grace by observing how the angel of the LORD spared his son Isaac from death, naming that place, “The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided” (Gen 22:14).

We aren’t sure how much Abraham saw of Christ, but surely, by the LORD providing a substitute, he was highly grateful—he rejoiced. Surely Abraham could see that God sometimes intervenes by providing a replacement at just the right time.

But let’s return to Jesus’ point.

Jesus said that Abraham gained insight into Jesus’ day. The Jews understood Jesus’ claim. By stating that He was there with Abraham, the Jews took Jesus’ words as unbelievable. “Have you seen Abraham?” (John 8:58)

It’s precisely here that Jesus upped the ante by not only stating that He was there during Abraham’s time but that He is the LORD referred to in Genesis 22 and Exodus 3:14. “Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). This is the reason the Jews picked up stones to kill Jesus; in their eyes, Jesus claimed to be God, which He was, but this statement was blasphemy to them.

Jesus indirectly connected Abraham and Moses’ experience with the angel of the LORD—referring to the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. A study of Genesis and Exodus where the appearances of “the angel of the LORD” occurs prove He is the same as God, yet One that is sent on a special redemptive mission. This is the reason Jesus keeps referring to God as His Father, He being the Son. He hopes we get the integral connection.

Conclusion

Jesus possibly referred to another Genesis event where the LORD spoke to Abraham, but nothing connects the dots more clearly than the appearance of the angel of the LORD, a clear reference to a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. The Angel of the LORD intervened in the otherwise tragic experience pushing Abraham to offer up his one and only son, upon whom all the promises of God to Abraham hung.

Jesus was that son that offered Himself up to die in our place. In this case, no other lamb, ram, bull, etc., could substitute for us as it did for Isaac. Abraham saw Jesus’ day and gained insight into the great mercy of God, who did not spare His son but gave Him up freely for us.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32

Check out the BFF NT Digital Library, which includes all our New Testament resources.

Discussion Questions for John 8:52-56—Jesus and Abraham

Read John 8:55-59 and guess at what event Abram (Abraham) saw Jesus.
Retell where the first eight usages of “the angel of the LORD” are in the Scriptures (refer above).
Why is the word Lord often written “LORD”?
Search the internet and note why the phrase “The angel of the LORD” is commonly linked to the second person of the trinity, namely Jesus Christ the Son of God.
What extra insight do we get from the eighth usage of this term, “The angel of the LORD” in Exodus 3:2? What is significant about Exodus 3:1-14?
What is the meaning or implications of God naming Himself, “I am that I am”?
What other names does Exodus 3 interchange with this one name, “The angel of the LORD?” Provide references.
What question does Jesus answer for the Jews in John 8:53? How did He answer it in the following verses?
Do you agree with the author that in John 8:56 Jesus refers to the time that “the Angel of the LORD” appeared to Abraham and spared his son, Isaac?
Why do you think the Jews were trying to stone Jesus in John 8:59?

Helpful books by Paul J. Bucknell related to this topic:

The Bible Teaching Commentary of Genesis: The Book of Foundations

Redemption Through the Scriptures: Gaining a Clearer Picture of Christ and His Saving Work