When Christ Jesus declared, "Before Abraham was, I am,"John 8:58; he underlined one of the most important themes of his ministry. Jesus knew more about the meaning, purpose, and origin of true existence than anyone else. And because of this knowledge, he was recognized as the Christ by those students of his who glimpsed the spiritual truths he was teaching and practicing.
But on this occasion, a contentious audience failed to grasp the significance of Jesus' words and attempted to stone him for blasphemy. Imagine this Nazarene carpenter's son confidently claiming a distinct identity and individuality existing even prior to the time of Abraham, the founder of the Hebrew nation some nineteen centuries earlier!
Jesus had keen insight into the truth that man's life is always the outcome of God's immortal, divine being and is, therefore, without beginning or ending. In overcoming the grave and ascending, Jesus proved he had a full comprehension of the spiritual nature of existence. Life eternal, life in and of God as Jesus demonstrated it, is the only true being there is. And clearly, the spiritual sense of Life, God, that Jesus taught is the antithesis of the belief in reincarnation.
