John 8:56-59

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷ Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

⁵⁹ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

and he saw it (v. 56) — Abraham knew his seed would include the Messiah. The Jews were not like Abraham. They didn’t rejoice in His day.

have You seen Abraham (v. 57) — That’s not what Jesus said. They twisted His words — either deliberately or because they didn’t understand.

I AM (v. 58) = Jehovah, the self-existing One (Exodus 3:6). The Jews understood exactly what “I AM” meant — that Jesus said He is Jehovah.

hid (v. 59) — not cowering in a corner, but a miraculous disappearance. When they did finally lay hands on Him (to take Him to the cross), it was by His choice because His time had come.