I Am Who I Am

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John 8:31–59 (ESV)

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

In John 8, Jesus is preaching truth directly to the Jews. Specifically those that have been targeting him and looking to get him in trouble.

At the beginning of the passage, Jesus promises freedom. “The truth will set you free.” How do we receive that? Abide in Him. Follow Him. Surrender to Him.

The Jews are confused because in their eyes, they’re God’s chosen people and don’t need to be set free. They were never enslaved in the first place.

And Jesus let’s them know. If you practice sin, you’re a slave to it.

In other words, we’re all sinners!

The Jews are trying to claim Abraham as their father. Saying “hey we’re good.”

It’s almost like that one kid that you see in some movies that says “do you know who my father is!?”

They have this false idea that they can get away with anything and be just fine. In this case, the Pharisees and other Jews claim their right to God through Abraham while going completely against what Abraham stood by.

They’re rejecting the Son of God and Jesus says by doing so, you’ve rejected the Father as well.

They believe Jesus Is a heretic. They even think he has a demon.

And this line to me is so good.

John 8:54 ESV

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

A group that would’ve been very familiar with God the Father. He tells them, hey I’m not just glorifying myself. In fact, your Father in heaven glorifies me.

And he bring it back to Father Abraham. Abraham rejoiced that he would see the day of my arrival. Confusing the group. “wait but Jesus isn’t even 50 yet.” How would he know abraham?

What does Jesus say?

The biggest statement to understand.

“Before Abraham, was I am.”

What is he saying? He’s not just stating his age Here. He’s claiming the throne. He’s saying “I Am the Lord your God.”

Jesus is Lord.

Many claim that Jesus never directly claimed that he was God himself. Others might have said it, but he never did. Not true. He does right here.

But maybe you’re still confused as to how that points to him As God. Well Jesus is bringing it back to Exodus. To the time of Moses.

Who’s Moses?

Leading up to the passage were about to read, Moses has been in the wilderness after he had fled from the Egyptians. And God speaks to him from a burning bush (pretty wild). And God gives Moses a word of what’s to come and how he’s going to be used. That his people, the Isrealites will be freed from the slavery their in. And be brought into the promise land. Moses being fearful of his ability to lead the people questions the mission God has for him. God responds by reassuring him that he will be with him. And then we come to verse 13.

Exodus 3:13–15 (ESV)

13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

“I AM WHO I AM.”

What does this mean?

When Moses asks for God’s identity, God’s response is “I Am.” this essentially God’s name.

And then we fast-forward to Jesus in John and he uses the same exact statement. “I Am.” How do we know that this was the case?

Well the reaction of those that had been targeting him was to pick up stones and attempt to stone Him. Because what he had said was blasphemous in their eYes.

What Jesus says here is the he is God. He is Lord. He is King of Kings. He has always existed Since the beginning of time. What does the beginning of John say?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”

Who’s the Word?

Jesus!!!

I know many of us here understand this truth. And live by it.

But starting here before we jump into the rest of this series is essential. What does the “I am” statement mean?

More specifically, who is Jesus?

So what do we do with this?

We go back to what Jesus said at the beginning of this passage.

“If you abide in my word, then you are my disciples.”

“Okay Jesus I want you, you are God, you are Lord, What do I do!?”

Jesus says “Abide in me.”

2. Abide in Jesus.

What does it mean to abide?

to live, continue, or remain

in who?

Jesus

Are you abiding in Him? If you’re not, Jesus says you’re not his disciple.

To claim God and say you’re a Christian but at the same time not live for him would be like

going and sitting on the opposing team’s bench at one of the games hear in town. And wearing their team colors. the visiting team would just assume that your on their side. Cause you look just like them. And if someone turned to you and asked you you’re going for and you said “Oh I’m here for the comets.” but you have no red on you and your not even on the right side. That would be confusing. Why? Cause nothing about you says Hinton Comets.

If your actions And words have nothing to do with Christ then you might as well have the opposing teams jersey on. You claim to identify with him, But You’re not abiding in him anD you never have.

Maybe Tonight that Is your response. surrender to Him as Lord of your life. And begin to abide in his word.

What does this do for us?

Jesus says “the truth will set you free.”

The truth is found in Jesus And if you want to be set free from the bondage of sin today, you must surrender to Him. In Him you have life. In Him you have freedom.

and look what he says about this Freedom.

John 8:34–36 (ESV)

The Son remains in you forever. Forever. Not until you mess up. Not until you lose your way. He will always be present and will never allow you to be Lost again.

Because you are free indeed.

3. Through Christ, we are set free forever.

Be encouraged by that today.

We serve a powerful yet gracious God that gIves us a free gift of life in Him by faith alone.

Some of y’all today might feel insecure about you security in Christ because of mistakes you’ve made or doubts you’ve had.

God has made you a promise. If you’ve already surrendered to Him, You are his. You are sealed. You have been bought with the blood of JeSus.

Discussion Question

Highs/lows

Jesus Moment

What stood out to you from the message? What confused you?

Why is it important that Jesus said “I Am?” What does it mean?

When was “I Am” first used? (Exodus 3)