God, Savior of Men

Today’s Reading from God’s Word:

John 8:51–58 CSB

51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. 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 claim to be?” 54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me. 55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Introduction

This week the thoughts of many will be on Christmas and a baby being born.

It’s a wonderful opportunity — even though we don’t know the exact date of his birth.

And while it is traditional for us to think about it more during this time of the year, we should give praise to God at all times for the gift of His Son.

But for many this is a special time of thanksgiving and praise — and that is good — because it brings glory to God.

We’ve been talking all month about the Kingdom — and there is no more appropriate Sunday than this one to focus on when the King came to earth.

Jesus’ coming is one of the most magnificent moments in history.

John 1:14 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

When you think of someone’s birth, you think of a beginning.

And yes, the baby born in Bethlehem had a beginning — that is — the beginning of God in the flesh — but never forget that

Jesus Christ, who was born that day in a manger is the Word — the eternal God.

This is unheard of.

No manmade god … no pagan god would ever go to these lengths.

For what? Why did He come?

If you choose to use this week as a time of praise and thanksgiving for His coming — you must come to appreciate and understand the mission He undertook in coming.

There was a distinct purpose in His coming — and it goes back to the heart of who God is.

A few moments ago, we read the words of Jesus in John 8:58.

Before Abraham was, I am.

This is a tremendous claim. It’s monumental.

Look back at v. 56:

John 8:56 CSB

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

When Jesus says this, the Pharisees are shocked.

John 8:57 CSB

The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?”

You’re not even old. How can you ever claim to say you saw Abraham, who has been dead for 1000’s of years?

And so, Jesus claims in v. 58 to be the eternally existing one — the eternal God — from everlasting to everlasting.

This is the most authentic, audacious, and most profound claim Jesus ever made regarding who he was.

They knew exactly what He was saying.

And at that moment, his opponents are forced to make a decision.

If Jesus is the one true God — as He claimed — they needed to fall on their knees immediately and worship Him as their creator — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

If He was not — He was guilty of blasphemy.

They made their decision:

John 8:59 CSB

So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple.

They fully understood the claim he was making.

He was claiming to be the eternal God.

And usually when we think the great I AM — that’s what we think of — The god of no before and no after and no past and no future — one eternal existence.

And we usually stop there.

But there’s more — much more.

The Greatness of His Name

Exodus 3.

Here, God has made himself known to Moses through the burning bush and has commanded Moses to lead his people out of Egypt to the promised land.

Exodus 3:13–14 (CSB)

Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”

God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

Now, there it is again.

And certainly God is speaking of his eternal existence.

But there’s is more. Go back to v. 11.

Exodus 3:11–12 CSB

But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.”

Not only is God the eternal one … but He is present with his people.

I AM not distant. I AM near. I will certainly be with you.

And now, skip down to v. 17:

Exodus 3:17 (CSB)

And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.

I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt…

He will deliver or redeem them.

Now we see the absolute majesty of His name. The I AM is:

Present permanently.

Near His people.

A redeemer and deliverer.

Exodus 6.

Let’s look at another conversation between God and Moses.

Exodus 6:2 CSB

Then God spoke to Moses, telling him, “I am the Lord.

“I am the I am.”

I am the eternal one who is near his people for the purpose of redeeming them.

Now v. 3:

Exodus 6:3 CSB

I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I was not known to them by my name ‘the Lord.’

He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai, God the Almighty One.

He is saying I appeared to them in strength and power.

They did not know me as I AM.

And what he is saying is that they did not know God as redeemer.

Now, for the first time, God is going to demonstrate Himself as the saving God of the covenant.

Exodus 6:4–6 (CSB)

I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land they lived in as aliens. Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are forcing to work as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.

“Therefore tell the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment.

The end of v. 6 is key. God was going to redeem them.

God had never done anything like this before.

Exodus 6:7–8 CSB

I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.”

So, who is the I AM?

He is the eternal one who comes near his people and redeems them….

And again, look at v. 7 …

He is the one who makes them his own people …

v. 8…

for the purpose of pouring out blessings on them.

This is who God is.

So, Exodus 6 is a monumental passage that defines the identity of God - and in that is salvation.

God wants to come to us — redeem us — make us His own — and give us a new quality of life forever.

The entire thread of redemption that God has worked out from before the beginning of time until now is bound up in the name I AM.

Jesus is the I AM

The God who revealed himself as the I AM to Moses is the same God who entered the world as Jesus Christ to fulfill his mission of redemption.

Look again at John 8:

John 8:58 CSB

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

In two simple words, Jesus is describing His purpose in coming…

to rescue his people from the bondage of sin

to bring them into an eternal relationship with himself.

to give them the bliss of his blessings in this life — and in the life to come — the glories of heaven.

And this is why the Jews picked up stones to kill him. They knew what he was saying — they just refused to believe Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah.

They chose poorly.

Jesus is the I AM.

He came … to deliver them from sin.

They should have seen this … because…

The Old Testament Proclaims God is a Savior

God the Deliverer

Deuteronomy 20:4 NASB 2020

for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’

Psalm 25:5 CSB

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.

Isaiah 63:8–10 (CSB)

He said, “They are indeed my people,

children who will not be disloyal,”

and he became their Savior.

In all their suffering, he suffered,

and the angel of his presence saved them.

He redeemed them

because of his love and compassion;

he lifted them up and carried them

all the days of the past.

But they rebelled

and grieved his Holy Spirit.

So he became their enemy

and fought against them.

He started out as their Savior - and they fought that.

He was their savior. Their deliverer.

Nationally

Yes, He had saved them from Egypt, by rescuing them out of the Red Sea and drowning Pharaoh’s army…

by delivering them out of 40 years of wilderness wandering into the promised land…

by rescuing them from a myriad of enemies that hated them and tried to destroy them.

Throughout their history

He delivered them from sickness and trouble.

He delivered them from danger and death — over and over.

Spiritually

Faithful Israelites knew God’s law and knew when they broke it.

Those who loved God would throw themselves on the mercy of God and seek forgiveness.

Isaiah

Isaiah 55:6–7 (CSB)

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.

Micah

Micah 7:18 (CSB)

Who is a God like you,

forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion

for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not hold on to his anger forever

because he delights in faithful love.

passages like this are all over the OT.

Psalms

Psalm 103:10–14 CSB

10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. 14 For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.

When John Was Born

It’s no wonder that when Zachariah, the righteous priest who was the Father of John the Baptist realizes the Savior is about to be born he proclaims:

Luke 1:68–69 CSB

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

Luke 1:72–75 CSB

He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant— the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

Luke 1:77 (CSB)

to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins.

Verse 77 is so important. Why was God going to send his only begotten son?

God revealed unto Zechariah why the Messiah was coming.

When He Came…

Many understood.

God has always had his faithful remnant of people.

These would be the ones who were familiar with passages like

Malachi 4:2 CSB

2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.

And that’s why we read about what happened upon his birth:

The Shepherds Praised God

On the night of his birth, shepherds were out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks.

Luke 2:9 says the angel of the Lord appeared with all the glory of the Lord shining around them.

Luke 2:10–11 (CSB)

10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

the last part of v. 11 is the key… a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

He. is. here.

God’s great plan, conceived before time began, is reaching it’s climactic point.

Finally, the time of Satan’s crushing blow is going to come.

God is going to bring the kingdom to earth — reigning inside the hearts of His people.

transforming them into His likeness.

making them a people set apart for holy living as a testament to His power and love.

It is a monumental moment — worthy of all of creation’s praise and worship.

v. 13-14:

Luke 2:13–14 CSB

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

The shepherds go into town and see Mary, Joseph, and the baby, v. 16.

And look at v. 20:

Luke 2:20 CSB

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

What do we see — angels praising God — and the shepherds glorifying and praising God for the birth of the Savior.

Simeon Praised God

After his birth — Jesus is presented in the temple.

Simeon, a devout righteous man had been told by the Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Messiah.

When Joseph/Mary presented the baby in the temple, Simeon was guided there by the Spirit.

Luke 2:28–30 CSB

28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, 29 Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.

This man knew the significance of the moment and blessed God and rejoiced to see the Messiah had come.

Anna Praised God

And just a few verses later the prophetess Anna came up and:

Luke 2:38 (CSB)

38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

She greatly rejoiced.

She spread the news that the Savior had come.

The Magi Praised God

The coming Savior was not just a moment for the Jews … it was for the world.

The magi were the ancient king makers of the east - likely from Persia or Babylon.

The coming kingdom would be universal. Jesus is a savior for all nations.

Isaiah pointed to their coming 700 years before:

Isaiah 60:1–3 CSB

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. 2 For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness.

And Matthew records the moment they arrived:

Matthew 2:10–11 (CSB)

10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.

11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They fell on their knees.

They expressed exceeding joy and worship at the birth of Christ.

As We Close…

This month we’ve been exploring the kingdom and seeking to define it.

And you can’t have a kingdom on earth without the coming of a King.

As you focus on his birth, do you see him as the King of your life?

Luke 2:11 CSB

11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

He has come.

He is the great I AM, the saving God.

He came to rescue us from the bondage of sin

to bring us into an eternal relationship with himself.

to give us the bliss of his blessings in this life — and in the life to come — the glories of heaven.

And for that, he deserves your unending praise, worship, and submission.

Have you surrendered to your King?

He will save you from your sin, dwell in your heart, and bring you home to the eternal glory of heaven.

What will your decision be?

Don’t be like the Pharisees of John 8 who took up stones.

Fall on your knees, worship Him as the great I AM and call upon His name.