Why were the Jewish leaders aghast when Jesus said He knew Abraham?
The Jewish religious leaders were aghast because Jesus, only thirty-some years old, claimed to have known Abraham, who had lived about 2,000 years earlier. They responded with unbelief, questioning how He could have seen Abraham since He was not yet fifty years old.
Les explains that the Jewish religious leaders were aghast because Jesus was claiming to have known Abraham personally, while Abraham had lived about 2,000 B.C. They said in verse 57, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and thou hast seen Abraham?" Jesus was only thirty-some years old, yet He claimed to know Abraham who lived 2,000 years before. They were unbelieving. Jesus then answered, "Before Abraham was, I am," claiming to be the pre-eternal, self-existent I Am.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
More Questions
What did the Jewish leaders accuse Jesus of when he said he had seen Abraham?
When Jesus claimed to have seen Abraham, his hearers scorned and ridiculed him and accused him of being a master deceiver.
Why did the Jews sarcastically say to Jesus, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?'
The Jews responded to Jesus' claim about Abraham with sarcasm, treating His statement as blasphemy and pointing out that He was not yet fifty years old.