Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 8:56

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad." — John 8:56 (ASV)

Jesus claimed that Abraham had a preview of his ministry and had rejoiced in it. This probably refers to the promise God gave to Abraham that his seed would become the channel of divine blessing to all the nations (Genesis 12:3). By “my day” Jesus was likely referring to his redemptive work, which would summarize his career. Isaac represented to Abraham the “seed” through which God would fulfill his promise. The miraculous birth of Isaac, his unquestioning trust in his father, his willingness to become a sacrifice to fulfill the command of God, and his deliverance from certain death all seem to point forward to the coming incarnation, death, and resurrection of the promised Seed, Jesus (see Ge 22:1– 18; Hebrews 11:17–19).