“I AM”

During the Season of Lent, we are involved in a series of sermons on the “I AM” statements of Jesus. In John chapter 8, Jesus is teaching in the outer courts of the Temple of Jerusalem. There Jesus is confronted by some of the religious leaders who really don’t understand the significance of their encounter with Him. They actually asked Jesus:
 
“Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” John 8:48
 
Instead of casting them into hell as they deserve, Jesus gives them an answer that’s designed to keep them out of hell:
 
“I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.  But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.” John 8:49-51
 
Rather than counting themselves fortunate, the religious leaders decide to press their luck:
 
 “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?” John 8:52-53
 
Again, Jesus gives an answer that’s meant to save His accusers:
 
 “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” John 8:54-56
 
Then these religious leaders decide to mock Jesus saying:
 
 “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” John 8:57
 
And so, Jesus spells things out for them:
 
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. John 8:48-59
 
Here Jesus identifies Himself with God Almighty who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, proclaiming:
 
"I AM who I AM." Exodus 3:14
 
The religious leaders finally understood what Jesus was saying. This is why they wanted to stone Him. They understood that Jesus was claiming to be God Himself. In their minds, Jesus was committing blasphemy by claiming to be God. And yet, these religious leaders were standing on the same Holy Ground where Moses stood. Jesus is the God who spoke from the burning bush-the God who came to save us from slavery to sin and death. 
 
Whenever we come into the presence of Jesus, we are standing on Holy Ground. We are standing in the presence of the God who has come to save us, not cast us into hell. During this season of Lent, as we spend time with Jesus, may we come to appreciate the true significance of our time with Him.

In Christ,

Pastor David