Trinity Sunday 2019- John 8

There is much to say about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. There are various Scriptural passages that allude to all three divine Persons. There are the teachings of the three ancient Creeds and statements in the Lutheran confessional documents. Yet, this year, the Lutheran lectionary Gospel focuses on one aspect of Trinitarian doctrine- the divinity of Jesus the Christ.

In John 8:54-58 (ESV), Jesus proclaims-

“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 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.”

These words "I am" are a reference to the divine name revealed in Exodus. By using these words about Himself, both Jesus and His opponents know that He is claiming to share one nature with God the Father. Many modern Christians prefer to overlook or at least downplay this belief. But the Gospel does not allow us to ignore Jesus' divinity. It is a basic and essential aspect of Christ's identity and of His saving work. Only a divine Redeemer can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil and save us from our sins. Only the divine Christ can lay down His life, take it up again, and offer us new and eternal life. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit...