Reformation Sunday is one of those unique times in the church year when we take a moment to remember a movement that changed the religious landscape forever. It is within this landscape that we find John and his gospel message this day. How does this story of Jesus and Abraham relate to Reformation Sunday?

First of all, it is important to see that Jesus' followers would be encouraged by this passage because it places them in the position of seeing that Jesus had faced what they were facing; some members of their churches had defected and had begun turning away or, in fact, betraying other Christians to persecution. Now, why would they do that? Well, look again at verse 31, "Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and yo…