Jesus, The Great I AM

Introduction

This is the first sermon in a series designed to help us know why we must “Hold on to Jesus”.

The devil would try to convince us that we need to give up on the Lord for various reasons. This is series provides numerous counter-arguments why you shouldn’t.

[Read TEXT: John 8:31-59]

TOPIC: Jesus, The Great I AM

Occasion for the writing of John

The rising influence of Gnostic teaching which disregarded/abandoned the nature of Jesus.

The increasing pressure on Christians in the 1st century. (They struggled with identity, “who was I in Christ?”) - “why am I holding on to Christ?”

How does John address these issues

He pinpoints times in the life of Jesus where His identity was challenged (John 1:46; 2:18; 3:2; 5:18; 7:12; 27; 40-43. There were always questions surrounding who Jesus was. How does this help a person who is struggling to “Hold On” (trust Jesus)?

APPL. I Trust what/who I know. [The barber, hairdresser, mechanic, grocery, fast food outlet etc. I have a favourite because I know them] When Jesus exposes who He is to us, it is not for purely for intellectual reasons but practical. He wants us to turn to Him and depend on Him for everything. BUT THIS BEGINS BY GETTING TO KNOW HIM!

It’s easy to say, “trust the Lord”. What is there about Him that I should trust? What qualifies the Lord that I would hold on to Him?

THEREIN LIES THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERIES.

The seven (7) ‘I Am” statements Jesus makes in John gives us reason to Hold On. This one is FOUNDATIONAL to the others.

John chapter 8

12-30 Jesus addresses the Pharisees John 8:13 “So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” And then the Jews, Jn 8:22 “So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

John 8:31 following

Jesus addresses the “Jews that believed Him”

Right away you notice the challenge Jesus issues to their discipleship.

APPL. What happens when my discipleship meets Jesus’ divinity? IT GETS EXPOSED

What happens between vss. 31-58 is Jesus exposes His divinity. How will you respond?

Jn 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”” This stands next to Ps 119:45 “And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.” [explain other verses]

Jn 8:36 ““So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” This highlights the power of Jesus to liberate, a power Jews knew only resided with God. [explain other verses]

APPL. Vs. 39 shows that sometimes my confession does not always match my character

vs. 40, if Abraham was here, he would not do this (He would recognized Divinity) Rom 4:3 “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.””

Jn 8:42 “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.”

What happens next is divinity met their [true] discipleship

Jn 8:43-44 ““Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning (external), and does not stand in the truth (general) because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature (internal), for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

They thought God was there father but their character was devilish.

Jn 8:48 shows that it is not always easy to see where I really am with God. What’s important is HOW I RESPOND. (Refer to the occasion for this letter)

Why Does Jesus constantly refer to His divinity? It must mean something!

The discourse finally climaxes in John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.””

This is not the first time Jesus makes a statement like this:

Jn 8:24 ““Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.””

Jn 8:28 “So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.”

This one is definitive and emphatic. Reminiscent of Ex 3:14

Exodus 3:14 NASB95

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Before Abraham was, I am. The reason they wanted to stone him in vs. 59 was because of what this statement meant.

They were familiar with this declaration and its association with YHWH.

Is 43:10 ““You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.”

Is 41:4 ““Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.’ ””

Whys is this man making such a claim?

Maybe its because He is.

Jesus has just proven that they are not who they say they are.

Now He is teaching I AM. . . The Great I Am

How will this help a Christian to “Hold On” - What about this truth aids the Christian?

Jesus’ Eternality - This means that whatever flows from His coffers will last

This life has nothing that lasts.

Even our afflictions (2 Cor 4:17-18) Problem is we compare them to the wrong things)

Jesus’ [Self] Sufficiency - This means He needs nothing to sustain Himself, He never runs out!

Energy, Time, Money, Zeal, they all run out or run low [I always need something]

But we serve a Lord Who supplies all our needs Php 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Eph 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”

Jesus’ Certainty - This means that Jesus is a sure thing, what He says will come to past

Matt 11:28-30 ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

2 Tim 4:8 “in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Mt 10:32-33 ““Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” [Ps 102:24-27]

Mk 16:15-16 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

1 Jn 1:9-2:1 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”

Acts 17:30-31 ““Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.””

Jesus, The Great I Am

Let’s hold on to Him