I AM

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

(Like kids on a playground)

Jesus Response

vv. 49-50;54, 58

After the “I AM” statement — he walks away

Word sets us free

Never see death

How do we respond to those against us — or against God himself?

Banter back and forth?

Argue?

Or state the Truth? The Gospel — proclaiming Christ as the great I AM and walk away...

Are we seeking glory? — It means nothing!!

God is glorified through our message

Jesus claims a lot in our text!

Testifies who He truly is and the significance it is for us! For every single person in this universe!

Jesus Claims & Truth of Himself

I AM

Exodus 3:12–15 NIV

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘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, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

unpack & connect

John 8:56 NIV

Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Unpack

The promise

We are the fruit of that promise

Comes through the Cross

Fulfillment of promise by Jesus

The claim by Jesus being God is proved true through His Word that we have, and the work he did on the cross & in the grave

Jesus would die on the cross and then rise from the grave forever proving that He is God, not just some good man or prophet. No mere man could rise from the dead. And in this case, no God could die. So Jesus, the God/Man died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave defeating death forever opening the door to heaven. Only God could do that. Jesus is God!

Jesus is salvation!

Jesus is the Word made flesh!

In Him, we will never see death!

Amen?

John 8:34–36 NIV

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Our freedom came with a great cost

Cost: Jesus’ life

Cost: Sometimes our comfort & some pain

But like Jesus we go straight through the discomfort and pain knowing we are free from death & sin

Sometimes we aren’t liked either and if it is because we have done something of our own to hurt others we should own that, but if it is because of Christ, we are in good company.

Conclusion

The Good News today is Jesus is the Great I AM!

Word made flesh

the Word who sets us free from sin & death

The promise of Abraham is fulfilled in Christ crucified & risen!

The door is open to salvation for everyone!

Only one who can do that is God!

All people can walk through the door of freedom and life that is in Christ!

Walk through the door!

Heaven and eternity await!

The Triune God — Your Father, Your Redeemer, Your Helper is there!

The Great I AM loves you deeply and wants you to never see death… — Only life

Life that is eternal — and Life that is w/Him!

The Glory we seek is God’s (point to the Cross)

The life we live is for God!

God is glorified through our worship, through our lives together as family, and through our witness to all those around us!

TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY BECAUSE IT IS ANOTHER DAY IN THE PRECIOUS ARMS OF THE GREAT I AM

AS PRECIOUS, FORGIVEN, CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH GOD — THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!