The Glory of Christ

Last week we saw Jesus claim that he honored his father God and the Jews honored their father Satan. After giving several examples to illustrate this truth He says John 8: 47

John 8:47 ESV

Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

These are hard statements, first you are not the children of God but rather children of Satan then that they cannot even hear the words of God. He is effectively claiming all their religion is worthless. Natuarlly they are upset and angry over this. Look with me at John 8:48-59 at their response and the ensuing conversation.

John 8:48–59 ESV

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Samaritan and a demon - racial slurs and

I do not have a demon rather I am honoring God and you dishonor me and thereby dishonor God.

Im not seeking my glory but God is glorifying me and he is the judge

Watch your step moment

Then he gives three evidences of his Glory

Power over Death

John 8:51–52 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’

If anyone keeps my word he will never see death

Jesus is claiming that he has power over death. that he can give live. We will see this become reality when he Raises Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11 and more powerfully when he raises himself in chapter 20.

Now the promise that his disciples would never see death is remarkable but notice it is a conditional promise.

You must keep his word.

What does this mean? Keep in mind the context of this passage Throughout this conversation Jesus has been claiming to be the way the truth and the life the source and giver of salvation and eternal life. The obedient son of God come to set us free of our sins, and to restore us to a right relationship with God. Thus keeping his word is to place our trust in him as our Lord and Savior and submit to him as obedient servants.

Notice also that the Jews change the phrasing to tasting death rather than seeing death and Jesus does not correct them.

What then does it mean to see and to taste death.

When we think of death we think of the cessation of bodily life. When the body has no breath no heartbeat no brain activity we call it dead. Yet in these moments Jesus always refers to this as sleeping. It is not true death.

True death is eternal seperation from God. This occurs when someone dies without having placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior accepting his death on the cross as payment for their sins. Therefore they themselves must pay for their sins by being eternally seperated from God in hell.

Yet the Christian need not worry about their sins for they are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. He, who deserved it not payed the price for their sins and overcame death that he might give life to those who believed in him.

Obedient Servant

John 8:53–55 ESV

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.

The Jews then argue that both Abraham and the prophets died and surely Jesus is not greater than them. Yet he claims power over death. They ask him Just who does he think he is. Now this is where we would think Jesus says he is God Almighty but rather Jesus says he is the obedient Servant.

I do not glorify myself God glorifies me.

Why does God glorify Jesus

Jesus knows God- He has a relationship with him he listens to him

Not only does the pre-existant Jesus know God but the human Jesus knows him

He spent time in prayer throughout the bible Jesus went off to pray

Pattern of prayer

Knew the word of God - studied it and knew it

He is obedient to him - faithful to what he knew and submitted to it.

The Great I AM

They keep pushing to know who Jesus is but look at their response when Jesus tells them.

John 8:56–59 ESV

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Abraham rejoiced to see my day - Jesus speaks like he knew Abraham - details and familiarity that are not normal in speaking of people 2000 years removed from yourself.

Come on dude your not even 50 your no elder much less thousands of years old.

How could you have seen Abraham? you can almost feel their sarcasm here.

Yet Jesus responds in a way that not only took them by surprise but was to them the ultimate sin - blasphemy

He says before Abraham was - I AM

before Abraham was even born I was present - again remember two weeks ago I said he is claiming to be God himself here the ever present self existing God. The I am that I am of Moses. Jesus is claiming to be God Himself.

Now for anyone else to say that the Jews would be right to have stoned him for blasphemy in accordance with the law. Yet Jesus was God in human flesh. Therefore He commited no Sin

Many have argued the divinity of Jesus, yet in this passage we see one of the greatest proofs in my opinion of his divinity. Remember he is in the temple, teaching the crowds when he makes this statement. The court of the Gentiles had little rooms built into the outer wall that teachers could go into and teach and whoever wanted to could go in and listen.

so Jesus is in one of these rooms teaching and says he is the great I AM and everyone picks up stones with which to kill him and the bible says Jesus just slips out.

How does Jesus get away He should have been trapped all eyes were on him and they are angry yet he just slips out.

Not only that but this would have been the perfect opportunity for the pharisees to have arrested him and yet they don’t WHY?

I propose to you that the Great I AM orchestrated events because it was not yet time for him to die. It was not according to his plan therefore he did not allow it. This is the sovereign power of God at work. Nothing can happen if God does not allow it.

Invitation

The question for us this morning is will we choose to glorify Jesus as the great I AM or will we too seek his death and downfall. The choice is ours but it is one or the other. There is no middle ground. You are either for Jesus or against Him. Whose side will you choose. Will you submit to him as Lord and master of your life or will you rebel against him, reject his salvation and choose to pay for your own sins. For those of you who are Christians I ask you are you praising God and giving him Glory for his greatness and his might deeds or are you sinning against him in your silence. Tell of his greatness today share his mighty deeds with those around you that they too might be saved.