Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.
— John 8:56
…Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day…
< < John 8:56 >>
New International Version (©1984)
Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
New Living Translation (©2007)
Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
English Standard Version (©2001)
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
International Standard Version (©2008)
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”
Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible
Abraham rejoiced to see my day – Or, he earnestly desired to see my day; , from , very much, and , I leap – his soul leaped forward in earnest hope and strong expectation that he might see the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The metaphor appears to be taken from a person who, desiring to see a long-expected friend who is coming, runs forward, now and then jumping up to see if he can discover him. There is a saying very like this in Sohar Numer fol. 61: “Abraham rejoiced because he could know, and perceive, and cleave to the Divine Name.” The Divine name is Yehovah; and by this they simply mean God himself.
And he saw it – Not only in the first promise, Genesis 3:15, for the other patriarchs saw this as well as he; and not only in that promise which was made particularly to himself, Genesis 12:7; Genesis 22:18, (compared with Galatians 3:16), that the Messiah should spring from his family; but he saw this day especially when Jehovah appeared to him in a human form, Genesis 18:2, Genesis 18:17, which many suppose to have been a manifestation of the Lord Jesus.
Wesley’s Notes
8:56 He saw it – By faith in types, figures, and promises; as particularly in Melchisedec; in the appearance of Jehovah to him in the plains of Mamre, Genesis 18:1; and in the promise that in his seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. Possibly he had likewise a peculiar revelation either of Christ’s first or second coming.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
8:54-59 Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, 2 Thessalonians 1:8. All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. Before Abraham was, I AM. This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord the Creator; well, therefore, might he make himself greater than Abraham. I AM, is the name of God, Exodus 3:14; it speaks his self-existence; he is the First and the Last, ever the same, Revelation 1:8. Thus he was not only before Abraham, but before all worlds, Proverb 8:23; John 1:1. As Mediator, he was the appointed Messiah, long before Abraham; the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8. The Lord Jesus was made of God Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, to Adam, and Abel, and all that lived and died by faith in him, before Abraham. The Jews were about to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he withdrew; by his miraculous power he passed through them unhurt. Let us stedfastly profess what we know and believe concerning God; and if heirs of Abraham’s faith, we shall rejoice in looking forward to that day when the Saviour shall appear in glory, to the confusion of his enemies, and to complete the salvation of all who believe in him.
On this day…
- Isaiah 43 – 2024
- Isaiah 42 – 2024
- Holding Fast the Word of Life in 2010 – 2011
- Praying in the Closet and in the Spirit – 2011
- If You Abide In My Word, You Are Truly My Disciples – 2011
- Bethlehem’s Antioch Moment – 2011
- Where He is known in this dimension, there is a healthy fear of the Lord – 2011
- It involves more risk than we assess prudent to take – 2011
- Psalm 90:17 – 2011
- Faithfulness – 2011
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