See full series: 2021
See full series: the-teachings-of-jesus-2020-21

Before Abraham Was – “I AM”

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: John 8:58

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TEACHINGS OF Jesus (45)

We are continuing our study of the teachings of Jesus.  For the next 2 months (plus), I would like to examine the “I Am” statements of Jesus in the gospel of John.  These statements serve to identify, at least in part, the relationship that Christ has with us.  Today, I would like to begin with the one that caused the greatest stir – John 8:58.

 

1. Background and Context
   1. Background – John is a gospel that is unique. It takes a different approach to the life of Jesus than the synoptic gospels (which are more parallel).  About 90% of the gospel of John is exclusive.  Rather than recounting the numerous activities in the life of Jesus, John focuses on a few occasions in greater detail.  He records several conversations Jesus had as He tried to make the case for Himself as the Son of God and promised messiah. Therefore, the gospel of John is sometimes described as the gospel of evidences as the discourses reveal in greater detail who Jesus actually is and how He defended Himself against His enemies, and the instructions He gave to His disciples.
      We are going to be looking at the gospel John for the next few months as we continue our study of the teachings of Jesus.
   2. One of these occasions sparked great controversy as Jesus made a straightforward statement that so provoked His enemies that they sought to kill Him on the spot. It is the statement that we want to examine today.
      1. The statement is found in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I AM”.
      2. Why would this statement cause his audience to take up stones to kill Him?
   3. The discourse leading up to the statement of Jesus is found in John 8:12-59
      1. Jesus begins with a declaration, “I am the light of the world” (We will address this in a couple of weeks) in vs. 12.
      2. Apparently, the Pharisees saw something in this expression because they immediately accused Him of bearing witness of Himself (13). Jesus answers this noting that He is not alone, but God the Father bore witness of Him (8:14-18) (in summary, through prophecy, miracles and even directly as a voice from Heaven declares Jesus on 3 recorded occasions – His baptism, His transfiguration and as He was about to be betrayed – John 12:28).
      3. This leads into a discussion about where Jesus is from and who is His Father. Jesus declares He is from above and they are from beneath.  He also says they are going to crucify Him and when He is raised, they would know that the Father was with Him. (8:19-29)
      4. Jesus declares to those who believed in Him that they needed to abide in His words and that the truth would make them free (8:32-33)
      5. The Pharisees answer Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants” (vs. 33).
         And this leads to Jesus declaring that if they were TRUE sons of Abraham, they would do the works Abraham spoke of and accept Him.  BUT they were not true even to Abraham because Jesus declares they are of their father the devil (34-47)
      6. Then they accuse Jesus of having a demon (speaking on behalf of Satan – an ad hominem attack). Jesus is plain in saying, “I do NOT have a demon, but I honor My Father and you dishonor Me (and Him)” (vs. 49)
      7. Then in vs. 51 (and this is where we lead to our text), Jesus notes, “If anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” The Jews respond by again saying Jesus has a demon, and then (correctly – TT)) they declare Abraham and the prophets are dead (and they kept the word of God).  Further they notice that Jesus said, “Whoever keeps MY word” indicting they understood that somehow Jesus was declaring His word predated His age.  Jesus would further declare that Abraham was aware of Jesus noting, He rejoiced to see “My day, and he saw it and was glad” (vs. 56)   Jesus is speaking as if He knew and had conversed with Abraham.
      8. The Jews rightly observed that Jesus was less than 50 years old and thus they ask, “and have You seen Abraham?”
      9. This leads to the statement that is so powerful – “Before Abraham was, I AM.” And they take up stones to execute Him but He escapes.
      10. And in His discussion He had made reference to this (I Am) – John 8:23-24, 28
2. “I AM” – what does it mean?
   1. Jesus is professing deity in this statement. That is why there was such a reaction.
      Understand that blasphemy was a capital offense under the Old Law.   The Jews Jesus was interacting with on that occasion knew what Jesus was implying in His statement and conversation leading up to it.  Their problem was their failure to even consider whether or not what He told was the truth.
      Jesus was NOT a charlatan.  He gave ample evidence for them to consider and John records some of that evidence.
   2. Also consider the origin of what Jesus was saying.
      1. Most tie this to Exodus 3:14
      2. Moses has fled Egypt and been away for some 40 years, dwelling in the land of Midian (Exodus 2:15, 3:1)
      3. He is tending the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro when he sees the burning bush. The LORD God appears to him and commissions him to deliver His people from Egypt.  Moses is hesitant.  And begins by saying, Who shall I say sent me?  What is His name?
         God replied to Moses, I AM WHO I AM, or simply “I AM”.  This a powerful statement declaring eternity – with no beginning or no end.  This was designed to declare to Pharaoh that the ONE TRUE God was challenging him and all the so-called deities of the land.
         Both to Moses and then to Pharaoh and Egypt, He would proceed to declare this fact by His marvelous works.
      4. The Jews understood well this statement, and what it meant for one to use it concerning Himself as Jesus did on our occasion.
   3. Consider what it means to claim to be God here –
      1. If Jesus is God (part of the Godhead), then He is to be served, worshipped, and obeyed. That was and is the important thing to consider here.
      2. BUT, in the statement of our text understand that Jesus is NOT just saying God created Him as another God. He placed Himself equal with God.
         1. Philippians 2:5-6 bears this out where Paul notes that Jesus did NOT consider it robbery (a seizure) to be equal with God.
         2. John 1:1-2, finds the introduction to this gospel declaring that very same thing. 14 – He became flesh and dwelt among us.  That is what John sets out to establish in this letter.  Notice John’s conclusion – John 20:30-31.
         3. The expression, “I AM” indicates that He is eternal – Isaiah 43:10-11, “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.
         4. It also manifests His former glory – John 17:5 as Jesus prayed, He acknowledged this.
         5. It also serves as a reminder of exactly what Jesus did for us – John 3:16, again Philippians 2:5-8, 1 Timothy 2:5-6 – For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. We think about Jesus offering Himself, but when we fully grasp that this was God, who did not have to do this, BUT HE DID, volunteered and provided a suitable sacrifice that God would accept for OUR sins.
            We just need to constantly remind ourselves of this!
         6. If Jesus is God, there are other qualities we must consider –
            1. He is all powerful (think of the works and “signs” He did – Acts 2:22, Peter would declare, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know…
            2. He is all knowing – John 2:25 notes that He knew hearts, and what was in man (cf. Matthew 9:4)
            3. He was all understanding – He fully understood His purpose, the motives behind what men were saying, especially as they tried to entrap Him.
            4. And many other qualities associated with deity. Jesus PROVED Himself to be God.
         7. IF Jesus is God, then He is our example – 1 Peter 2:21ff, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 1 John 2:6 – we ought to walk even as He walked.
3. Why I believe Jesus is God!
   1. In this text we have been making the case for Jesus declaring Himself to be God, and in such a forceful that it could not be denied or misunderstood. The Jews knew what He meant.  Consider that later, as they brought Him before Pilate, they even acknowledged His claims – John 19:7-8.
   2. BUT why should I believe that Jesus is God? Let me make the case for why I believe this.
      1. Because of the integrity of the New Testament – in our class, we have been studying why the Bible is the word of God and worthy of our consideration. WE have noted both external and internal qualities that manifest its integrity.  If you appreciate the Bible, you know that Jesus is the central figure of its message – Hebrews 1:1-2, Acts 4:12
      2. Because of the claims He made – as we have seen in our text, He claimed to be God.
         Calling Himself the Son of God AND the Son of Man had an implication.
         But “I say to you” – a sign of authority that the people recognized (see the Sermon on the Mount, esp. their response in Matthew 7:28-29.
         John 7:46 records an occasion when officers were sent to arrest Jesus.  They returned without Him and said, “No man ever spoke like this Man.”
      3. Jesus revealed the Father to us – John 14:1, “You believe in God, believe also in Me…”
         John 14:8-9 – show us the Father…
      4. Because of the things He did things exclusive to deity –
         1. Jesus accepted worship – Matthew 14:33, after walking on water, those in the boat worshipped Him.
            John 9:38 – the blind man healed worshipped Him.
         2. He forgave sins – Mark 2:5-7 – as He healed the paralytic to back up His claim!
            Luke 7:47-48 – when Jesus was at the house of Simon the Pharisee and told the parable of the 2 debtors. He forgave the woman who washed His feet…
         3. He granted eternal life – 1 John 5:11,12, John 10:28 – concerning His sheep, (cf. John 6:47, 5:24, etc.)
      5. Jesus backed up His claims
         1. Because of the numerous prophecies about Him – Luke 24:44,
            Luke 24:25-27 where on the road to Emmaus He expounded the scriptures to them.
            – He even prophesied of what would happen in His own life – Luke 9:22, 18:31-33, etc.
         2. The miracles He performed –
            1. John 20:30-31 – again notes the purpose of His miracles.
            2. During His life we have recorded miracles that were witnessed by about 10,000 (9,000 on 2 occasions alone).
            3. He performed all different types of miracles that manifested His power over every aspect of life – including Satan, nature, quality, quantity, illness, birth defects, and even death.
            4. John 5:36, He appealed to the works He did. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
            5. John 10:38, as Jesus plead with some of the rulers who rejected Him, but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
         3. It is because of these evidences that I confidently declare that I believe Jesus is God as He claimed in scripture.

The claim that Jesus made on that occasion says so much about who He is.  As I have shown, I believe the evidence in His favor is highly sufficient to believe what He says.  He boldly claimed to be God, and He is.

Having established that Jesus is the great I AM, in coming lessons we will see what that means FOR us.  Meanwhile, let me encourage you to accept Him by submitting to Him on His terms.  Because Jesus is God, we MUST obey Him.  We must serve Him.  Will we?  Think about it!