"I Am" the Son of God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Guy swallowed a tub of margarine, been in ER for 8 hours, doctors say " we can't believe he's not better'
This evening we have the privilege of studying the “I Am” sayings of Christ once again. Can anyone here this evening tell my why these statements are so important? They are important because they connect Christ as the foretold Messiah of the Old Testament. Thus, He reveals Himself to Israel (and to us today through His Word) as God Incarnate come to fulfill all that God had promised. He came first as the Messiah the Savior. In doing so, He came offering Himself as payment for our sins. The next time He comes He will come as King to rule and reign over all.
Now, a good deal of time has passed since our last “I AM” saying and study. So, for a moment, let’s catch ourselves up as to where we are in this study.
The last “I AM” sayings we considered were found in John 10. Take your Bible and turn there with me.
Note these “I AM” sayings...
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Those we have already considered. And, for the sake of time, I will not go back and review all that we learned from those two statements. However, I do want to point something out before we get to the next saying of Christ.
If you go back to chapter 9, look with me at verses 40 and 41.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Which group of people spoke to Jesus here asking Him a question? It was the Pharisees. Now, note that Christ “said unto them (the Pharisees).” From John 9:41 until John 10:18, Christ is speaking to the Pharisees. As He is speaking to them, a large crowd of Jews gathered listening to this back and forth between Jesus and the Pharisees. It is important to note this as we move forward with our study. Note their response to all that they heard and saw.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Obviously, the Jews, the common people, were divided in their opinion of Christ. Some saw Him as a madman with a devil. Others saw Him as a Savior and Deliverer.
Not continue reading with me and watch what happens next.
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Essentially, the feast of dedication is what we know today as Hanukkah. The date of which falls in and around the date of winter solstice which is about December 22. That is why during our Christmas season you will often see much about the Jewish Hanukkah. Hanukkah or as it called here in our text, the feast of the dedication, was started by Judas Maccabeus. It comemorates the cleansing and the reopening of the Temple after the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated it in 168 B.C. This is the time of the year these Jews approached Jesus and wanted to settle their debate. Thus, they said to Him, “If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Note Christ’s response.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
There are two things about has answer that are important to consider.
First, Christ explains how useless it would be to answer their request. Note again verses 25 and 26.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
You see Christ had already spent much time revealing Himself to them. Look with at some of the things He had already said to them...
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Already, He had explained that He was the Son of Man and possessed all authority.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
He had also noted that even Moses wrote about Him.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
He had revealed the fact that He was “the living bread which came down from heaven.” All they had to do was accept as such and they would live forever.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
He even spoke of Abraham rejoicing to see His day.
All of these statements by Christ plainly testified that He was the Promised One of the Old Testament. He was the Messiah. On top of all that, He performed great miracles or “works” demonstrating His power as God. Yet, will that He had taught and had done, they still did not believe.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
All of this points to the man’s true nature. Men are truly reprobate.
Just last night I was thinking about sin. Sin is corruption. It is a corruption that started with the original sin in the garden of Eden. A corruption that grows exponentially with each generation. Scripture is quite clear that in the “last days” this corruption will have permeated every corner of society. We see the evidence of its corruption all around us. In our text here, we see sin’s corruption in full view. These people were the very people who had walked with Christ, talked with Christ, and witnessed all the great miracles that He did and, yet, they still were not willing to believe He was indeed the disciple.
Christ goes to speak about those who do belong to Him.
Note some things about those who know Him.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Those who know Christ as Messiah...
Belong to the Shepherd and It is His Duty to Care for each of them!
Our duty as Sheep is to simply follow Him!
He gives His Sheep Eternal Life, We Do Not Earn It!
His Sheep “shall never perish!”
No One is Capable of plucking “them out of my (his) hand.”
His Sheep have the Additional Security of God the Father!
Christ then makes this statement.
30 I and my Father are one.
The Son of God and God the Father are one. Arthur W. Pink gave this observation in his “Exposition of the Gospel of John.”
“All the diligent care and tender devotion of the Shepherd for the sheep but expresses the mind and heart of the Owner toward the flock. The Shepherd and the Owner are one, one in their relation and attitude toward the flock; one both in power and in Their loving care for the sheep.”
Now, note the reaction of the Jews upon hearing Christ’s statement, “I and my Father are one.”
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
These reprobates instantly understood and recognized Christ’s claim of absolute equality with the Father. Again, we see the core of human depravity. Christ was completely innocent. He did nothing wrong. Yet, these people hated Him without cause. They did so because He was indeed holy. His holiness exposed their sinfulness. Instead of falling on their knees before Him admitting their sin, they instead chose to rise up against Him. Truly we have a picture of sinful man’s constant rebellion against God in full view here. A rebellion that has been evident since the Garden of Eden. Why did Cain hate his brother, Abel?
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Why did the Jews hate Christ so?
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
And, for those who would stand with and for Christ, Christ said...
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Going back to our text, Christ’s response was...
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The word “works” here refers to all that Christ did during His earthly ministry. It speaks to His perfect life, His gracious works as ministered to those in need, and His wondrous words. All of His “works” met the Father’s full approval. They were “works” commanded and authorized by God the Father. And, when Christ was done, He said to the Father...
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Now back to our text and verse 33 to see the Jew’s answer.
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Now, here is something that you must know and remember. Each of the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) focused on presenting Christ with a specific purpose. The Gospel of John focuses on presenting Christ as God Incarnate. Thus, it was focused on the deity of Christ. For that reason, we often see in this gospel more than any other man’s wicked response to Christ as God Incarnate. Evidence once again that the carnal mind is “enmity against God.” And here, just like other times, these men sought to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, here and even on the cross, Christ was gracious with an infinite amount of forbearance. He, who could have spoken a word and ended them all, chose to engage them instead. Praise God that He still does the same today.
I am going to stop here. Next week, as the Lord wills, we will get into the Lord’s response to the Jews. His reply to them as two parts. Both of which is based on the fact that He was indeed the Son of God. I hope you will come back next week as we examine the first part of His response.