The Great I AM
God’s Word for Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Title: The Great I AM!
We have been teaching through some of the old hymns…
All in Him
Down from His glory
Today: The Great I AM
Song that proclaim and declare who God is.
See printed lyrics
This is in specific reference to Jesus’ words in John 8 where he said”before Abraham was, I am.”
Those that heard him had the same question, How can that be, you are not even 50 years old!
To understand this, you have to go back to where it all started…
Exodus introduces us to a new and very power character by the name of Moses.
Some 430 years had passed since Israel had lead his family into Egypt.
They has went form 70 people (including Joseph and his 2 sons) to 2.5-3 million people.
In that time they had become slaves and God heard their prayer and set out to deliver them and bring them back to the land he had promised his friend Abraham.
Moses: 40 years in Pharaohs house a his son, 40 years on the back side of a desert as a shepherd.
Sees a bush burning but not being burned up… goes to check it out and is introduced to the God of his forefathers!
God wants to partner with him to deliver his people…
One of the amazing principles of the Word of God is that God always has a plan and key to the plan are people!
FLESH! HUMANITY!
Show me one thing after creation that he has done that did not have an individual or group of people that was central to what he was planning!
Why not you? Why not me?
This was NOT Moses’ response…
List of reasons why:
Wanted man
Not a speaker, perhaps a stutterer
God showed him why it didn’t matter
Rod to snake
Hand in coat
Who will I say sent me?
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
THEN in verse 15 - “this is my name for ever, a memorial to all generations!”
I AM = All in all!
Moses goes back to Egypt and God proves to Israel and Egypt that He is the I am!
Miracles before Pharaoh
10 plagues
Great riches
Cloud to lead by day, pillar of fire by night
Leave and come to the Red Sea but have not yet learned about the Great I am…
While the sea is in front of them, mountains on each side, Pharaoh’s arm is coming behind.
Cloud settles in behind and blinds the army
Sea opens up before Israel and dry land
Same opening that delivered Israel, destroyed Egypt
They sang a song! Exodus 15:1-19.
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
The great I am had saved them again!
John 8 Jesus uses the SAME NAME!
The religious had brought a woman caught int he act of adultery.
The law demanded that both should die…
This was a trap for Jesus…
If he said stone her - but you said you did not come to condemn!
If he said release her - but you said you didn’t come to destroy the law but fulfill it!
BUT what he said was if you’ve never needed mercy, you may stone her!
Then wrote in the sand.
Look at the dialog:
Jesus had a response they could not beat at every trap
Jn8.21 he says; where I go, you can’t come - you are from below, I am from above
Jn8.24 he says; if you don’t believe I am he you will die in your sins.
Jn8.25 they ask; who are you?
Jn8.28 he responds; when you life me up (crucify me) you will know me.
I am HE - italics, he added by translators for clarity.
Jn8.39 they proclaim; they are Abraham’s children - he responds why don’t you live like him?
Jn8.56 he said; Abraham rejoiced to see me!
Jn8.57 they were incredulous; you are not even 50 years old!
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
For him to say this meant that he was telling them that he was God!
QUESTION: WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND THAT YOUR TRADITION VIOLATES THE WORD OF GOD?
Pick up rocks to stone him!
Jesus disappears!
Walks through the crowd, they can’t find him!
Conclusion: Even a blind man can see that!
The religious could not see who he was…
Chapter 9 begins with Jesus healing a blind man.
So while the religious are blind, sinners can see him!
Jesus revealed that he was God in flesh, the great I am!
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
