The rocks were burning a hole in their pockets. At first, they wanted to direct their deadly projectiles towards an adulterous woman ambushed in her sin . . . but by the time they were done debating Jesus, they were ready to cast their stones upon the perfect, spotless Son of God. You sense they were angry . . . that they were frustrated . . . that they were feeling cornered. Darkness exposed by the Light . . . no place to hide . . . no argument that would stand. All the evidence pointed to the truth of His Word . . . and they were having none it. What was left to do? Throw stones.

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

Before Abraham was . . . I AM!!! Strike up the band! Cue the chorus of angels! Set off the fireworks! Jesus claim is unmistakable . . . He is God . . . eternal God. Existing before Abraham . . . manifesting Himself in the burning bush to Moses . . . the One through whom, and by whom, and for whom all things are created. Hear the declaration . . . take in the proclamation . . . and go facedown! Or, pick up stones to throw at Him.

Oh, the hardness of the unregenerate heart . . . the deadness of the spirit encased in self exaltation . . . the darkness of those in willful subjection to their own deceitful pride. To be before the Light of the world, and seek to extinguish Him . . . to be offered the truth that emancipates and sets free, and reject it choosing instead to follow the father of lies, the one in whom is no truth. To stand face to face with God incarnate, to hear Him claim the great “I AM” as His own, and to say, “No, you’re not!” To be offered eternal life, and to respond by throwing stones. That, but for the grace of God, was me.

There’s no neutral ground when it comes to the Savior. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me” (Matt. 12:30). Those who reject the truth will at some point pick up the rocks . . . those who refuse His grace will eventually start throwing stones.

But God is patient. Jesus walked away from His would be executioners that day though He could have retaliated and wiped them out with a simple command to the host He rules over. He could have opened up the ground beneath them as they cocked back their arms ready to pelt Him. But God is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2Peter 3:9). And so He would continue to speak truth to them . . . He would continue to call them . . . He would continue to show Himself as “I AM” to them.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . . The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.    (John 1:4-5, 9:13 ESV)

Jesus came to save stone throwers . . .