JOHN 6:16-21 | IT IS I
Notes
Transcript
JOHN 6:16-21 | IT IS I
JOHN 6:16-21 | IT IS I
ILLUSTRATION: As a child, I had the blessing of having a mom who drove a school bus.
For nearly the entirety of my school years, from early grade school all the way until I got my license and could drive myself to school, my mom was the school bus driver.
There were definitely some perks that came with it
Like I could tell other kids what to do and then claim that the command we coming from my mom, whether it actually was or not.
I never had to worry about getting written up and having to go to the principals office… because mom had a way of taking care of my misbehaving at home her own way.
And probably the greatest benefit of all was that she would get to stay at home with me and my younger siblings during the summer time.
There were a lot of good memories attached to that blessing.
We got to go and do a lot of fun things during the summer
We never had to go to a baby sitter.
We had a swimming pool at our home, so nearly every day of the summer was spent swimming in our above ground swimming pool
But with all of that time together, on occasion, I would do something I wasn’t supposed to.
And since we were at home with mom, there was no getting it past her.
Now most of the time, mom would take care of things right then and there.
She would apply the rod of correction to the seat of knowledge,
At some points that “rod” was her hand… at other times it was dad’s belt which was far more terrifying.
I remember one time I had gotten in trouble and she got dad’s belt and I ran out the front door of the house and hid in the swing set we had up on the hill.
But probably the worst form of correction, was the times when she would say, “just wait until your dad gets home.”
That was the worst!!!
The waiting, looking out the window, praying for the rapture!
But you know sometimes, mom would use that sentence, and it meant something completely different.
Sometimes when she said, “Just wait until your dad gets home” it was because he was going to throw the baseball with me, or take me fishing
You see, it was the same statement, but my actions determined how I received it.
EXPLANATION: The disciples had rowed all night long.
They were undoubtedly exhausted from all of their rowing.
They were going to get themselves out of the situation they were in.
And that’s when it happens.
They look up and walking on the water is a figure coming toward them.
Now we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, that I don’t think the disciples were actually afraid of the storm they were in.
We talked about their experience on the water as fishermen.
Examples of other times the Bible says they actually were afraid.
And it’s possible they were afraid here, the Bible just doesn’t tell us they were.
But can I give you another reason I don’t think they were afraid from the storm?
Because God’s Word tells us when they were afraid!
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
Here they are with their heads down, rowing through the storm… trying to get themselves out of this.
And all of the sudden they look up and they freak out!
Mark tells us they thought Jesus was a ghost.
But then Jesus says something for the very first time in John.
Throughout the rest of his writing 24 others times John records that Jesus would use an “I am” phrasing..
And each time, these were clear emphases of His deity.
But of those 24 times, 3 of those times are “I am” phrases that point to His identity as THE “I AM”
And each time is accompanied by a different response.
APPLICATION: This morning, I want you to hear the voice of Jesus saying to you, “I AM”
And Jesus is saying it to every person in the room here today.
As He says it to you, I wonder what your response will be?
Let’s take a look at those 3 times Jesus used that phrase to point to His identity as the “I AM” and let’s see 3 different responses, that you too could find yourself in today.
I. “I AM” IN THE GARDEN, John 18
I. “I AM” IN THE GARDEN, John 18
EXPLANATION: In John 18, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the crowd is now surrounding Him
The question is asked, “Who are you looking for?”
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
At the voice of Jesus identifying Himself as “I am” all of the people standing before Him fall backward upon the ground.
Now, we don’t know how anyone responded when this happened, the Bible doesn’t say, but I think we could confidently assume, their was likely some fear!
They came to capture this guys that with only a spoken word He had so much power that they couldn’t even stay on their feet.
The fact that Jesus is God led some to be fearful.
APPLICATION: For some people, that is the relationship they have with Jesus.
It’s one of fear.
That fear can come from a couple of different places:
Fear from a wrong view of God.
Some churches teach that God is sitting in heaven with a lightening bolt just waiting for you to mess up so He can strike you down.
ILLUSTRATION: I experiences this at times when I was growing up.
God’s love was directly tied to my actions.
If I did what was right, God would love me more.
And if I did something wrong, God wouldn’t love me anymore.
So I tried to do what was right and keep up appearances because I wanted God to love me.
But then when I failed… when I sinned… I just knew I had lost some of God’s love for me.
APPLICATION: Friend, that isn’t Who God is.
God’s love for you isn’t determined by your actions… it is determined by His character!
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Friend, if you know Christ as Savior, you don’t live to gain more of God’s love
You live this life from the complete love of God He has given to you!
I don’t serve Him because I want to earn more of His grace, mercy, and love
I serve Him because He gave me all of His grace, mercy, and love!
And I don’t want to be guilty of taking for granted the Love that Jesus gave to me!
Some are have a fear from a wrong view of God
Some fear because they are running from God
You look at your life and you know you aren’t where you ought to be with Christ.
God’s love for you should motivate you to live for Him, not live for yourself in spite of Him
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Some are afraid, because God is clear that because He loves you, He won’t just let you live how you want.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
When the correction of God happens, you’ve got two choices.
You can humble yourself before the Lord and turn back to him
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
But some reject God’s chastening and instead continue away from God.
Friend if that is you this morning, can I tell you what you are… you are full of pride!
And God hates it… and He will not stand by it.
These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
It is the sin that cast Lucifer out of heaven and made him Satan.
And when you refuse to turn back to God in His loving correction, you do have something to fear…
Because sometimes in His love, if you refuse to turn to Him, He will just remove you so you don’t hurt the name of Christ more.
He talks about that at the end of 1 John 5.
Friend, if you are afraid of God because you are running from Him, stop running and turn to Him today!
Some are have a fear from a wrong view of God
Some fear because they are running from God
But others have a fear because they don’t know God
This is a legitimate fear.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
That’s a wonderful promise to the believer.
But to those who haven’t accepted Christ and have chosen to reject God’s gift and try to earn heaven their own way.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
To continue in your own way of doing things is as if you are already condemned, because no matter how hard you try, you can never obtain forgiveness for your sins on your own!
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Friend, if you don’t know Christ as your Savior, one day you will know Him as your judge.
Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
Friend, if you don’t know 100% Christ as your Savior right this moment, I hope that fear will drive you to the feet of His cross, and you will accept Jesus as the Savior from the punishment of your sins today!
Jesus said, “I am he” and that power undoubtedly led many to fear him.
II. I AM IN THE TEMPLE, John 8:58-59
II. I AM IN THE TEMPLE, John 8:58-59
EXPLANATION: The second time Jesus said made this defining statement was in John 8:58-59
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
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.
When Jesus made the claim in that statement, the people rejected Him and became angry toward Him.
They took up stones to kill Him.
All because Jesus said He was God!
Because if Jesus is truly God, then they were accountable to Him.
ILLUSTRATION: It’s kind of like when you were little and you told your brother or sister do something.
We all no what they would have responded with…
“You can’t tell me what to do!”
“You aren’t the boss.”
But then you pulled out the trump card that was the ultimate answer to their opposition to you:
“Mom/Dad says”
And they had to do it then, because while they weren’t accountable to you… they had to listen to what Mom or dad said!
APPLICATION: For some the thought of there being a God, means that you are accountable to someone… And it’s a hard pill to swallow!
And you don’t want to let anyone have the final say in your life besides yourself.
Maybe you wouldn’t say it audibly, but you are holding up a fist to God in your heart.
Because you don’t want to let God be God of your life!
You don’t want to have to live under the authority and commands of this book!
Now you put on a good show for everyone here at church… but your responses to God’s Word clearly demonstrates where you stand in your heart!
That’s why when a message is preached and the sins you struggle with are brought to your mind, you would rather just get angry than respond in humility.
Just for fun… let’s just run through a few:
Anger
Lust
Pride
Bitterness
Unforgiveness
Worry
Envy
Hatred
Gossip
Gluttony
Or maybe the sin of omission instead of the sins of commission.
You aren’t doing what you know you should do.
No maybe I didn’t hit your specific sin, but when I don’t the Holy Spirit has a way of pointing it out pretty clearly.
Now that He has put His finger on what you need to take care of in your life, here’s the next question… what are you going to do about it.
Some will walk out of the church this morning gripping tighter to their sinful life and go deeper into the hole they’ve dug for themselves.
And that hole is really the grave of their spiritual life.
Because God’s Word is clear, Psalm 55:11
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me:
Friend, Stop shaking your fist at God and let Him be God of your life.
Get those things right with Him and let Him be God!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
EXPLANATION: There are different responses to Jesus being “I Am”
The Third “I am” is in John 18 in the Garden: they were afraid
The second “I am” is in John 8: They rejected Him as God of their life.
III. “I AM” IN THE STORM, John 6:19-21
III. “I AM” IN THE STORM, John 6:19-21
EXPLANATION: The first “I am” is here in John 6, and I hope it’s how we all choose to respond today:
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
They willingly received Him in…
They accepted Him into their boat willingly!
APPLICATION: Friend, whatever you are going through this morning, you are right where God wants you to be… hearing His Word, for this point.
Remember where we started — these men had been rowing for hours, against the wind, in the dark, trying to get themselves to the other side.
They didn't cry out for Jesus.
They didn't stop rowing and pray for help.
They kept pulling at the oars, convinced they could muscle their way through.
And it's not until they see Him walking toward them that everything changes.
Notice what Jesus doesn't do.
He doesn't wait until they reach the shore to reveal Himself.
He doesn't wait until the storm passes.
He comes to them in the middle of the sea, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the storm.
Friend, that's who Jesus still is.
He doesn't wait for you to fix your situation before He shows up.
He doesn't wait for the storm in your marriage, your health, your finances, your addiction, your grief to calm down before He comes near.
He comes to you in it.
And here's the turning point of the whole passage: "Then they willingly received him into the ship."
Not "then they were finally rescued."
Not "then the storm stopped and they calmed down and eventually let Him on board."
They received Him — right there, in the middle of the very thing they'd been trying to survive on their own.
Willingly
And look what happens the moment they do: "immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."
They didn't row themselves to shore.
The moment they received Him, they arrived.
Friend, you may have been rowing for a long time.
You may be exhausted from trying to handle this on your own strength, your own wisdom, your own willpower.
This morning, Jesus isn't asking you to wait until you reach calmer water.
He's asking you to willingly receive Him right where you are — in the boat, in the storm, in the dark.
And when you do, He'll do what you could never do rowing on your own.
ILLUSTRATION: I was 14 years old and for 6 months God had been working in my hard about surrendering to His will and His burden to preach His Word.
I can’t exactly explain it, it wasn’t like an audible voice or clear signs put in front of me.
But 1 Peter 3 says if “Any man desires the office of a bishop, or pastor, he desires a good work”
And there was a desire in my heart to preach God’s Word
But I made every excuse I could come up with as to why God had the wrong guy.
I struggled talking to people individually
I couldn’t speak in front of people in a group
What could God do with some kid in southern Indiana/
It was July 7, 2004, and I was sitting in the back row at family camp in southern Indiana.
The preacher preached… and he was a boring preacher, but at the end of the message, he said, “I believe there is a young man here that needs to surrender to preach God’s Word.”
I couldn’t believe it… how did he know?
I remember holding onto the brown metal chair in front of me and saying “no God not me!”
And I didn’t surrender..
I didn’t go forward
I stayed in my seat and the invitation ended.
But that night, there just so happened to be a second preacher.
He preached a great message I didn’t hear a word of.
I prayed and told God that if He let me live through that service I would go forward to the altar and I would commit to preach God’s Word if that’s what He wanted.
And that’s exactly what happened.
APPLICATION: You know, when I was growing up, it seemed like people were regularly surrendering to God and giving their life to Him, or answer His call in their life.
But these days, it seems like there’s far less of that.
And I don’t think the issue is God has stopped calling… I think he’s still standing there in the midst of our rowing trying to make our life work.
We just have stopped inviting Him in willingly.
Letting Him be the one that’s in control of your life.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
God is still standing their on the waves of your life today… but He’s waiting for you to invite Him willingly into your boat!
CONCLUSION
"Just wait until your dad gets home."
Same six words.
Two completely different meanings — dread or joy — depending on what I'd been doing.
This morning, Jesus says three words — "It is I" — three times in the Gospel of John.
Same words, every time.
Three completely different responses.
In the garden, armed men came to arrest Him, they were afraid
In the temple, they were enraged.
And here, in a boat, in a storm, they willingly received Him.
Same Jesus.
Same claim.
Three different hearts.
Jesus is saying the same three words to you today,”It is I"
Right in the middle of the waves of your life you're rowing through — what will your response be?
Will it be fear, because you've never let Him be who He truly is?
Will it be rejection, because you don't want anyone, not even God, telling you how to live?
Or will it be reception — tired arms, worn out from rowing, finally letting go of the oars and letting Him into the boat?
Friend, the storm doesn't have to calm down first.
The night doesn't have to end first.
He's already here, walking toward you, saying the same thing He said to His disciples two thousand years ago: "It is I; be not afraid."
Will you willingly receive Him?
“It is I!”
