Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
All Commentaries on John 8:56 Go To John 8
Irenaeus of Lyons
AD 202
Existing before all, and going before all.
For when the Lord said to them, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad "they answered Him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? ".
And teaching this very thing, He said to the Jews: "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he should see my day; and he saw it, and was glad".
Since, therefore, Abraham was a prophet and saw in the Spirit the day of the Lord's coming, and the dispensation of His suffering, through whom both he himself and all who, following the example of his faith, trust in God, should be saved, he rejoiced exceedingly. The Lord, therefore, was not unknown to Abraham, whose day he desired to see;
