Jesus, The Great I AM.

Introduction

There is a story about learning I read about this week. It was about a young Chinese boy who wanted to learn how to make beautiful statues/figures out of Jade. So, he found himself one of the great teachers of the art, and committed himself under him. On his first lesson, his teacher handed him a stone, and began to talk and ramble on about everything and nothing. After and hour of this, he took the stone from the boy and sent him on his way. Frustrated about this, the next week he returned, to exactly the same thing, though he couldn’t bring himself up to interrupting/dishonoring his masterful teacher. After a few weeks of this, the boy had finally had enough. After having the stone placed in his hand, when the teacher was about to start his customary ramblings, the boy cried out, “this isn’t jade!” Ah yes, now the lessons could truly begin. So much of our faith maturity, church family, of learning everything we can from Jesus, is recognizing Him. Actually seeing which lessons are from Him, the Great I AM, God Himself, and not deceptive lessons from Satan meant to harm our faith and that everyone around us as well. So then, let us all endeavor to recognize Jesus for the true God and savior that He is, and call out/recognize when it is actually Satan at work trying to deceive us away from God.

Prayer

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. I ask these things for your glory and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

Context

In last week’s text, we saw, and continue to see in today’s, Jesus, the Light of the world shedding light; exposing sin in places that it was previously hidden. We also saw Him do things that we would not expect naturally, but rely upon as believers. These are things like Mercy, what Jesus gave the opportunity for each to receive when He died on the cross. We saw Him and how the other persons of God testified about His deity and authority; and also that Jesus (who stands as our permanent example of the kind of person be be like, we saw that He always sought the will of God in His life, no matter the cost, no matter the discomfort or hardship that what followed. What mattered to Him most, is that God’s will would be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven.

Jesus while He was on earth, gave us many lessons and examples. All of which, we as His followers (His disciples, Christians) are to observe and then follow to the best of our ability with God the Holy Spirit's empowerment and leading. So, just as we said last week, we, you are to Take in, learn, and apply every lesson from Jesus you can. This is a lifetime endeavor. It is not just a one and done thing, for if you were truly Jesus’ disciple you would abide in Him and His Words/Lessons/Commands. So, evidence of a person’s true faith in Christ is a steady progression in Holiness and pursuit of God and His will. With this then, we can observe ourselves and have loved people who know us and want the best for us to do the same; and tell us if we are bearing any spiritual fruit in the season we are in. Yes, some seasons will have more than others, but every healthy Christian will bear spiritual fruit. So then, how do we progress from branch or vine that bears very little to a branch or vine that gives a bushel or more, as was just said, by taking in, learning, and applying every lesson from Jesus you can. So, let’s see some more of the lessons He gave, let’s jump in and From the text, I want you to see, understand, and apply these truths from Jesus, The Great I AM.

Message

The first truth to see, understand, and apply is to: Be set free by the truth 30-38

30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him. 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,[c] you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”33 “We are descendants[d] of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38 I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father; [e] so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”

After giving the teaching He just was at the mount of Olives, many people listening believed Him enough to keep listening. At least, they believed Him that much, enough to not walk away right then in either anger or disgust because the God they had made up on their own minds had been challenged and told to be wrong. Jesus addresses these, we might call them, “light” believers. He tells them, if you continue in my word, in listening and following me, then this is proof that you are really my followers, really my disciples. (looks like we are about to see another sifting here). When you know the truth of salvation that I am sharing, you will be set free (from sin). Many in the crowd call out in either misunderstanding or in showing their true unbelief. They harken back to their familiar lineage, that they were of the people of Moses, and before that was good enough, so why shouldn’t it be now? They call out, we haven’t been enslaved (which of course they had as people and even now in this moment one could argue that they all were…..) How can we be set free if we are free now? Of course, they didn’t understand that every person in sin is a slave to sin. So then, i as the Son of God, will set you free from your sin, this truth will set you free! Many of you are trying to kill the one who is going to set you free! What sense does that make? This tells me that you were never truly followers of God. If God is not your father, then someone else must be…..

I’m sure there is a similar lesson here, that we have either taught our children or have been taught as children ourselves. And, let me just say as I, a child… I didn’t always pass this lesson….. Oftentimes, just telling the truth will set you free from a harsh punishment. Or, at least, you will endure a less difficult punishment. I can recall one time where I lied about passing a spelling test. Now at the time, young Jacob enjoyed watching WWE wrestling more than anything. Well, I had a truth to face. If I failed a test, I wasn’t allowed to watch wrestling that Friday night. With the test being on thursday, I lied and said I passed, I did not. I got away with it, for about 1 and half days. I got to watch wrestling that week, but my parents found out the next when all my graded work was set home. Well, before my punishment was only missing one week, now that I had lied, it was a month. I know this sounds silly, but to me, this worst punishment ever. Every friday night, my mom, dad, and sister would watch the show, which I could hear from my room. Every second was brutal, and when my favorite wrestler’s music came on and I didn’t get to see what was going on, my hopes of a last second reprieve were shot. Not telling the truth, settling for sin, made me prisoner in those hours.

Just as living in sin, makes us a prisoner to it for our entire life. Even worse, not turning from your sin and turning to the Lord Jesus for salvation, will make you a slave to sin for all of eternity. As, believe me, hell is a very real place, and every soul who is not written in God’s book of life will spend eternity there. You do not want this, not in the least bit, you do not want others to experience that either, not in the least bit. So then, Take in, learn, and apply every lesson from Jesus you can. Here, see how The truth of Jesus’ Gospel will set a person free. Believe that, remind it yourself often, live by it’s truth, and then let that motivate you into sharing with others so that they can be set free by the truth as well.

The next truth to see, understand, and apply is to: Abide in God and His will 39-47

39 “Our father is Abraham,” they replied.“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did. 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You’re doing what your father does.”“We weren’t born of sexual immorality,” they said. “We have one Father—God.”42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to[f] my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out 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 tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,[g] because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

To this, what would have been to them a very hard to endure lesson, they replied, hold on, our Father is Abraham. Jesus puts it plainly, if your father was truly Abraham (if you really followed him), you would rejoice at my coming and being here just as he would. But that is not what you have done, you have done opposite. Your actions and deeds show plainly who you get your example and lineage from, from Satan. They cry out in anger, no, we come from His lineage, our true father is God. Not, so, not so. If God were truly your Father, you would love me, His Son whom He sent to you. Why is it you cannot hear and endure this lesson? Because you were never God’s children, you are children of Satan Himself, so you seek to do me harm, you seek to dishonor God, and bring honor to your father the devil. You have believed his lies because you are from him. I am telling you the truth, yet you reject it, this just goes to show, you will not listen to God, because you are not from Him. What Jesus was talking about here, was abiding, being in God. Living in His wants, will, words. Rather, they abode in Satan’s lies.

Have you ever noticed, how what you are in (what you abide in) feeds into itself. Just like how a few small pieces of trash seem to attract more. How 1 broken window seems to turn into more soon. Or someone putting on a good example for you seems to rub off on you, what you around and in seems to replicate itself over and over again doesn’t it?

Here, Jesus was saying that in their hearts, that they were abiding with Satan, who lives in sin and specializes in lies and deceit. So, they as a people had done the same. This had penetrated their minds so deeply, that they no longer followed God, and made God into their own pleasing image. Here however, was Jesus saying that you must abide with me, and not that false God you made up or the one who has changed and arranged your mind for the worse (the devil). You need to change and turn to me and the truth that I have, and you will be set free from the burdens and weight of the sin that you bear so heavily. I wonder, church family, if ever stop and think if we aren’t so different. Who and what are we reeling abiding in? Is it the true God of the universe, is it The Lord Jesus Christ. Or is it the Lord of something else and we have given that idol authority over something it should not have? This is a trend, that each believer has a duty and part in reversing, in every single generation, in every single stage of life. One way we can be better prepared to do so is to, Take in, learn, and apply every lesson from Jesus you can. One of which is to abide in God and your will. So then, are you truly spending time with God? Resting in Him? Resting in the assurance of will? Are you comfortable with it, even when many more doors seemed closed then open? Trust in God and His will Christian, and so prove that you are His disciple.

Another truth to see, understand, and apply is to: Put your faith in the Great I AM 48-59

48 The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon?”49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges. 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?” [h] 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden[i] and went out of the temple.[j]

Well, clearly they didn’t take this very well. Look how the crowd responded. Clearly, they were being challenged to truly grow spiritually, and as is common when sin is revealed, it lashes out harshly. They did the same, throwing the most derogatory and hateful slur out at Jesus, they called Him that, said He had a demon controlling Him, so He was like a crazy person. Aren’t we right that this is that kind of terrible person that you are Jesus? They cried out in rage. Jesus says no, I am not, and I do not have a demon. See who I am honoring, God the Father. A demon would never ever do that. Jesus tells them, if you follow my words, you will never see death (speaking of the spiritual death). They, of course, could not get past the physical, saying how every other person had died before us, what makes you think you are better than any of them. Jesus replies in a way that they would understand. I was before Abraham. I am, the I Am, the great AM, who Moses met in the wilderness in the book of exodus. I always was and always will be. I am greater than any you have ever behold or seen, I am God almighty. Once again claiming His rightful deity, the self seeking and God hating Jews took this as a blasphemy against God, and sought to kill Him. Though, they could not and did not, as it was not the God ordained time for Jesus to die just yet. So, He disappeared before them, and left the temple.

Perhaps you know the story that Jesus is referencing here, perhaps not, but let me refresh your memory. In Exodus chapter 3, Moses while on the run from killing a man, hiding out in the land of his uncle’s belongings. Came across a bush that was burning on the Mountain referred to as the Mountain of God. This bush thought it was burning, and was not consumed by the flames, so Moses went to investigate. This fire was an angel, but soon The Lord God addressed him, and told him of his roll to go and set his people (the Israelites) free from slavery under the Pharaoh of Egypt. At the end of the conversation, Moses asks God, when I go to this, who should I tell the people sent me, under who’s authority am I doing this deed. God told the, I AM WHO I AM. Tell them the I AM sent them. As in, I AM everything. I AM all powerful, I, GOD, is the one authorizing this. Jesus harkens back to God addressing Himself, as Himself here.

So then, here we see arguably the greatest lesson that Jesus gives. To put your faith in the Great I AM. Take your faith away from Satan, away from the lies, away from the sin, away from the idols. Put it in God. This is a great lesson that we should reminder ourselves of daily. So then, Take in, learn, and apply every lesson from Jesus you can. Put your faith in The Great I AM.

Conclusion

Beloved, do you do this. I think we can all agree to it, and do you notice how one part of that statement, Take in, learn, and apply every lesson from Jesus you can, is more difficult that the rest? Yes, many will struggle to take in, read the bible, come to church service, be around other believers, many struggle with that lesson, more will struggle with learning a lesson (actually listening). However, the real difficulty comes when it comes to the application part. What good is it, to learn something, and then not apply it to your life. What good is it so with your mouth that you affirm what God has shown you, but your actions do not? Really, it does no good. Don’t just learn something for the sake of learning, learn it for the sake of doing. Learn the Gospel of Jesus, that we are separated from God because of sin but because of His sacrifice on the cross we can be forgiven, for the sake of applying it to every part of your life! Yes! You are forgiven! Yes this has implications on your life! Yes, their are actions that should follow in a truly repented believers life! No, those actions do not save you, but they are a proof to the world that you were truly changed for life by Jesus’ blood sacrifice! So then, learn these lessons believer, Be set free by the truth 30-38, Abide in God and His will 39-47, Put your faith in the Great I AM 48-59. Discover what is keeping your from doing, and put it in it’s rightful place, much lower in your life. Take in, learn, and apply every lesson from Jesus you can. Put all of your faith, all of your trust, all of your hopes and dreams, and lay them at the feet of Jesus, the great I AM, and seek His will always!

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.