Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? — they press the question: Is Jesus claiming to be greater than Abraham? Their sarcasm is biting: Abraham, the patriarch, died; the prophets died; yet Jesus speaks as if those who follow him will transcend death. The question 'whom makest thou thyself?' (Tina seauton poieis?) demands that Jesus account for such an audacious claim. Jesus's answer (8:54-58) will indeed affirm his transcendence over all earthly figures, rooted in his eternal being.

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