I AM - John 8:57-59

Welcome to Cornerstone Reformed Baptist Church. Thank you for using and sharing our resources. What you're about to hear is God's Word from one of our teaching elders. We trust that God's Word will inspire, instruct, and bless you. For further teachings or information on our ministry, please visit us on our website at cornerstonerbc.

com. That's cornerstonerbc.com. So if you have your Bibles with you, we will be continuing in our study in the Gospel according to John. So let's open our Bibles to the Gospel according to John to the eighth chapter.

The eighth chapter of the Gospel according to John. It will feel for most of us as though we've had two corporate readings, because I am going to get us to read practically the whole chapter, not exactly the whole, from verse 12 through the end of the chapter. I feel it's fitting as we will bring this eighth chapter to a close this evening. So John chapter eight from verse 12. This is the beginning of the discourse of our Lord with the Jewish people there in the temple grounds at the end of the Feast of Booths.

So John chapter eight from verse 12. Again, Jesus spoke to them saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. So the Pharisee said to him, you are bearing witness about yourself. Your testimony is not true.

Jesus answered, even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I came from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one, yet if I do judge, my judgment is true. For it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. If your law is written that the testimony of two people is true, I am one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.

He said to them, therefore, They said to him, therefore, where is your father? Jesus answered, you know, neither my father, you know, neither me nor my father. If you knew me, you would have known my father also. These words he spoke in the treasury as he taught in the temple, but no one arrested him because his hour had not yet come. So he said to them again, I am going away and you will seek me and you will die in your sins.

Where I am going, you cannot come. So the Jews said, will he kill himself since he says where I'm going, you cannot come. He said to them, you are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you will die in your sins for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.

So they said to him, who are you? Jesus said to them, just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true. And I declared to the world that I have heard from him. They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the father.

So Jesus said to them, when you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing of my own authority, but speak just as the father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that he is pleasing to him. And he was saying these things, as he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

They answered him, we are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say you will become free? Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever. The son remains forever.

So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham. Yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I heard and seen with my father and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus said to them, if you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works of your father. Your father did.

They said to him, we are not born of sexual immorality. We have one father, even God. Jesus said to them, if God were your father, you would love me for I came from God and I am here. I came not on my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say?

It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and a father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you did not believe me, which of you convicts me of sin?

If I tell the truth, why did you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. The Jews answered him, are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? And 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 Jew 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, you will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham who died and the prophets who 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 rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jew said to him, you are not yet 50 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. Amen. This is the word of the Lord.

Our Lord said that the heavens and the earth will pass away, but my word will not pass away. Let's come before him in prayer. Lord, we thank you. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the treasure that it is to our hearts.

We thank you for the opportunity, once again, that you've given us even through this means to open your word and together as a church, as a body in unity, to meditate upon the contents of what is before us here in John chapter 8. We ask that as we do this, that you would be among us by your Holy Spirit. As I speak, Lord, I pray that only that which is true and corresponds to truth, only that which is eternally true from your being would be spoken And that, Lord, those who hear would be approaching this moment in faith, and that would receive your word in faith, and that you would empower us, Lord, not only to believe, but also to obey. We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Saviour, our King, our God. Amen.

Well, brothers and sisters, finally, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will bring this tremendous chapter, Chapter 8 of the Fourth Gospel, to an end. I don't know about you, but for me, spending many, many hours, countless hours, in fact, in this incredible chapter was so edifying to my soul. To hear the eternal truths from the mouth of our Lord spoken so clearly in the dialogue that as it progressed, that dialogue progressed between Him and the Jews there in the temple space was so invigorating to my soul. It encouraged me. It increased and grew my faith in this Christ, my Lord, my Savior.

And I hope it's done the same for you, because this has been a long journey. It's gone on for a bit over a year. We've been in this portion of Scripture between chapter seven and chapter eight. But beloved, it is sad to say that those feelings of joy and gratitude for God's word is not the same for everyone. It certainly wasn't the same for the original audience who are listening to the words of our Lord.

It's not the same for many in even our day who read the narrative, because as we've become so accustomed in the fourth gospel, and as we've been studying through the eighth chapter so far, whenever our Lord opens his mouth, he's always met with what? Opposition. Jews, some admire what he has to say. We've seen that already. They may be interested in his teaching or intrigued by his authority for a time, but even most of them don't persevere or endure till the end.

But for the most part, the overwhelming response to our Lord's words is that of strong opposition, antagonism, contempt even, as we'll see this afternoon, even murderous anger. is the response that His very presence and His teaching evokes. Even when issuing gracious invitations, like what we've seen in this chapter, even those elicit a response of hostility from the audience. But that should not be, that should not be beloved, a surprise to us. Now, it's true the original audience before our Lord are the religious Jews of the day.

Some more religious than others, of course, but all to some degree or another familiar with the Old Testament scriptures. And for the most part, they were anticipating the advent of Messiah. In other words, their eyes were wide open and eager to receive the Christ. But even then, with all his authoritative teaching, with his absolute incredible demonstration of divine power, and even with all the prophecies of the Old Testament that I was so familiar with being clearly fulfilled in this Jesus, these Jews still dismiss his claims and they reject his teaching. That's inexcusable, right?

Hold on, beloved. All too often, We can look back and point the finger at these Jews, especially after spending over a year meditating on a section of scripture set in the temple in Jerusalem and focusing on our Lord's dialogue with the unbelieving Jewish opposition. We can look back and we can think to ourselves that their rejection of our Lord was inexcusable. And of course it was. But to do that without also recognizing that their response to Jesus was not uniquely a Jewish response would be a big mistake.

Beloved, although the Jews are put on center stage in this section of scripture, What we see before us is not uniquely a Jewish response, but a fallen, sinful nature response. Rejection of Christ by nature is a universal problem. It's a darkness problem. A fallen man, man fallen in Adam, whether Jew or Gentile, dwells in that the person dwells in pitch darkness. He sees and hears many things.

But when it comes to spiritual matters, he or she is blind as a bat. You know why? Because he or she is spiritually dead. So the spiritual reality spoken from our Lord's mouth, including the one we will consider this evening in verse 58 of his own identity, will not and cannot be received without a spiritual heartbeat. these people hear them, no matter how persuasive the argument is, the sublime truths of God and His salvation through His only Son will fall on deaf ears unless those ears are supernaturally made to hear, unless those blind eyes are made to see.

In other words, apart from the supernatural work of God in taking one out of the realm of darkness and into the glorious realm of light, everything that they hear pertaining to God and His salvation will be misconstrued, misunderstood and met with deep, deep hostility as we've seen before us. And is that not what we've seen in chapter 8 over and again? Jesus expresses a spiritual truth, one to be received by faith, and the Jewish opposition misinterpret completely what he says, and the result is confusion and more resentment, deeper and deeper resentment that just becomes outright anger. The verses we have before us in verse 57 is an example of this. And especially the one that comes after which we will look into very, very shortly, the one in verse 58 that speaks to their very identity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, to build the context, last week, we considered verse 56. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. And I labored then to show that it was with the eyes of faith that Abraham saw the day of Christ and was glad that he believed the promises of God. And he placed his hope in them, looking forward by faith, believing all that God had promises will come to be fulfilled.

All the promises, all the promises, including the unique offspring promised from his own loins. It will be the blessing to all the families of the earth. Beloved, last week I tried to show how this unique blessing, this unique offspring from the loins of Abraham that was promised to him is one and the same as the offspring promised back in Genesis 3, verse 15, after the fall of man, that same offspring from woman, we're told, who would crush the head of the ancient serpent once and for all. Beloved, this is Messiah. This is the only hope of humanity.

Abraham saw with his eyes of faith. He believed in the promises, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. The result, we're told, was joy in his heart. And now upon hearing those words with that spiritual discernment, the Jews who are listening to our Lord translate what is being said, literally and materially, and their response, beloved, is expected. Listen to verse 57.

So the Jews said to him, you are not yet 50 years old. And have you seen Abraham? They can clearly see that Jesus is not yet 50. Now we shouldn't take the words of these Jews to somehow suggest that our Lord looked like a 50 year old. That's not it at all.

At this point, Jesus was in his early to mid 30s, we know that. But it's most likely that these Jews would look upon Christ and they could see that he's barely 30 years of age. Now we know you're not quite 40, but let's be really, really generous and say you're not quite 50. But even if we give you that, Jesus, and how could you say that Abraham saw you when he existed, when he was living some 2000 years ago? Of course, the implication is if Abraham saw you, then you would have seen Abraham.

Then how can you say you saw Abraham when we can see that you haven't even lived on this earth for 50 years? How can you say you saw Abraham? Who existed some 2000 years ago? Come on, Jesus. Who do you think we are?

You can almost hear the smugness in their voice. But of course, that comes on the back of prideful, spiritual ignorance. You see Abraham still on the table. Why? Why?

Because they challenged Jesus with what seems to be that rhetorical question. If you remember back in verse 53, when they say, are you greater than our father Abraham who died? Now it's most likely in their mind, their mind is made up. This was not really a sincere question to our Lord. In their mind, they're thinking, no way is this Jesus greater than the great patriarch, Abraham, the father of this nation, our hero.

But beyond that, You need to realize why they said what they said. Listen to the words again. Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? You see, it's clear in their response that they're responding to something. They're actually responding to Jesus's second truly, truly statement in this chapter, that one that's found in verse 51.

But Jesus says, truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will what? Never C, death. You see, their response was to Jesus's comment, to Jesus's statement. And they're thinking Abraham died. Are you saying that those who keep your word won't die?

Are you greater than Abraham? You see, that's what they're thinking. And no need for me to spend too much time here because we've already examined this text a couple of months ago, but it goes to show what I was saying before. about the spiritual ignorance, which always leads to misunderstanding. Because it's not a physical death that Jesus is speaking of in verse 51, but a spiritual death.

You see, these people's minds are stuck in the literal and in the material, and they miss the point. In fact, beloved, they miss the point of the whole discourse. Because if you remember, the whole discourse on this day began with what I said was the very backbone of this whole chapter, the very interpretive grid of everything that will come from this verse. And it's written in verse 12, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Jesus began by revealing what is at stake here. The life is on the line. What life? Eternal spiritual life is on the line. And then from there, he begins to explain what sort of life.

Jesus is not speaking about a physical life, but one that is far more significant. To be brought out of darkness, into the light of life is to be brought out of spiritual death into spiritual life. And if one follows the discourse carefully, beloved, as I've tried to do with all of you over the last period of time, we will see that this life, this eternal life is the very essence of the teaching of our Lord on this day. And beloved, this life that Jesus speaks of, the life that is attained and one will avoid the second death, the spiritual death that He speaks of, this life is found through faith in Him and in Him alone. But beloved, the reason these people before our Lord just don't get it, the reason they misinterpret everything being said and continue to reject Jesus is because they are simply not interested in what is on offer.

That's what it comes down to. They see no desperate need for what Jesus is offering. They don't perceive themselves to be lacking anything. Like our brother said earlier on, this is a ignorant spiritual pride that we in and of ourselves are content. We have enough.

They don't see the need for what Jesus is offering. Remember back in chapter six, after the feeding of the 5,000, our Lord stood before the multitude on the next day. And there was many in front of him. And he graciously said, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger.

And whoever believes in me shall never thirst. And yet on the same day, thousands defected. They turn their back on Jesus and they walk away. Why? Beloved brothers and sisters, why did they walk away?

Why didn't they heed our Lord's instruction only moments earlier when he said, do not pursue the food that perishes, but the food that endures to eternal life, which the son of man will give you. Why did they not heed that instruction? Why did they reject Jesus and turn away? I will tell you why. Because they have an insatiable hunger for bread, but the type that fills their tummies, the bread that they tasted only a day earlier.

That's what they're hungry for. but no hunger, absolutely no hunger for the bread of life who eternally satisfies their soul. They weren't hungry for the bread that Jesus has on offer. They weren't hungry for Jesus Christ because they felt they had no need for him. Apart from filling their bellies, they had no concern for any bread, let alone the bread of life.

You see the spiritual ignorance rooted in pride of these Jews in chapter eight is no different to that of the Galileans in chapter six. This is no simple misunderstanding as I said earlier. This is a far deeper spiritual issue. It's become evident that even those who at first seemingly believed in him, you remember verse 30 and 31, even they don't recognize their need a spiritual life, the type that Jesus offers. As it stands, they hide now themselves behind Abraham.

They cry out, we are okay the way we are. We are just fine, thank you, Jesus. But beloved, here's the devastating thing. They are not just fine. They are not.

Okay. If they breathe their last and close their eyes, that will be destined for that spiritual death that Jesus spoke about earlier. That eternal misery will be their lot. Why? Because of what Jesus said only moments early in verse 54.

If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. If my father glorifies me of whom you say, he is our God. Here we go. But you have not known. You have not known Him.

Your eyes are still blind in the things of God. Your ears are still deaf to the voice of God. In a word, you are dead men walking, spiritually speaking, because you are devoid of the life of God. Beloved, the sooner we recognize this truth, that we are all born in Adam fallen and spiritually dead, the better. Our brother Nelson made that point on Thursday night during the Bible study.

You remember, he referred back to when God said to Adam, don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for the day you eat of the tree die, you shall what? Die. And Adam ate. How is it that Adam lived till 930 years of age. Adam fathered many more children after he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And you might say, then how is it that he died? Beloved, we know that physically speaking, his body began to decay. It decayed and corruption set in and it took 930 odd years for that to take effect. But spiritually speaking, Adam died. that day, just like God said He would.

Adam's sin entered humanity into darkness, spiritual death. For beloved, I will ask you right now, what is spiritual death? Well, the teaching of Scripture, both in the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament is this, spiritual death is to be alienated. It is to be separated. It is to be removed from the life of God.

Adam was kicked out of the garden, separated from the life and the presence of God. Spiritual death. You see, the natural man is a stranger to God because he is far removed from God. God is unknown to the natural man who's still yet fallen in Adam. And like these Jews, these Jews, they do not know God, but they remain in Adam.

The problem is the natural man, beloved, is that he doesn't recognize this truth. That's the problem. He sees no lack in himself, no need for the life that Jesus has on offer. Physical death is nothing compared to the death that is to come. And Abraham, Abraham, he did die.

True, but spiritually speaking, he will never taste the death that Jesus speaks about. You know why? Because he believed. He saw Jesus' day and he was glad. He believed in the promise of the Messiah to come.

Beloved, Abraham's salvation is rooted in Jesus Christ. Let me say that again. Abraham's salvation is rooted in Jesus Christ. There is no other name under heaven by which man can be saved. None before Christ, before Christ's advent into the earth and the incarnation or after.

Beloved, only one God and no other mediator between God and man than the man, Christ Jesus, who will give himself as a ransom for many, even Abraham. Abraham, by faith, believed. Unlike these Jews, Abraham knew God. Unlike these Jews, Abraham was reconciled to God. Unlike these Jews, Abraham was called a friend of God.

Abraham was taken out of darkness into the light by faith, and through faith, he was made alive, never to see death again, spiritual death. And so when Jesus said, Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. But these Jews not recognizing Jesus' offer in verse 51 is the avoidance not of physical death, but spiritual death if they believe. and by them not recognizing that Jesus speaking of Abraham seeing his day was a seeing with the eyes of faith, they respond just as you would expect people without spiritual discernment to respond.

So how do they respond? You are not yet 50 years old and have you seen Abraham? Fair enough. So in the final words, in the final words of this chapter, In this very long discourse between our Lord and these Jews, He not only answers the question that is on their mind, those questions in relation to Abraham, He answers that in a direct way, but also He summarizes all that He's been saying all along throughout this discourse. And one thing is for sure, beloved, they were not expecting what was about to come out of His mouth.

Verse 58, Jesus said to them, truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. Truly, truly, they're doubly emphatic. Some 25 times it's found in the fourth gospel, the gospel according to John, where it comes out of the mouth of our Lord. And you've heard me say it again when I've addressed this, truly, truly, simply said it is, it is everything that Jesus says is important. Everything he says between him and the Jews and him and whoever is incredibly important.

But when he brings out these truly, truly statements, it's only saying, if you haven't been paying attention thus far, if you've been coming in and out, if you want to take notes, take notes of what I'm about to say. Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. Beloved, if there was any doubt about who Jesus is declaring himself to be, that doubt right now in these words is crushed to pieces. His hearers may not agree with his claim, and we know they don't, but there is no doubt at all what Jesus is saying. These Jews knew exactly what Jesus was saying.

The scripture is crystal clear. I am is the sacred name of the only true God, the God of Israel. I am is the most holy name in the universe. When Moses at the burning bush asked the Lord, when he said he was going to send him to Egypt, he said, when I go to Egypt and they asked me, who is it that sent you? What was his response?

What was Yahweh's response? It was, you tell them, I am sent you. I am. You know, if you've been a Christian for any period of time, you probably have this verse memorized, brothers and sisters. Because we know in our day, just like in this day, there are many cults.

There are many blasphemers. There are many detractors of the truth who continue to launch a full-scale assault at the deity of Christ. Now, this is not a Jewish problem, as I said earlier. It is a fallen, sinful nature problem. So when we engage with these people, I hope with respect and love and gentleness, on many occasions we We go back to John chapter 8 verse 58, and that's probably or most likely the verse we go to, to affirm and to root that Christ is indeed divine.

Our opponents may not believe those words, but there's really no question of whether Jesus himself or what Jesus himself was claiming. There's absolutely no ambiguity when he calls himself I am. In our day, many will argue that Jesus never said he was God. You probably had those conversations with some of the people, maybe your family members, unsaved family members, friends, workmates, or people on the streets. And so they'll try to discredit any text, even if they affirm the Bible or not, they'll try to discredit any text that affirms the deity of our Lord.

And this one is no exception. But beloved, when a person is spiritually blind, in deep darkness, they'll do anything to refute this soul-piercing truth. You know why? Because if Jesus is indeed who he says he is, and as I said earlier, there's no question about who he's claiming to be, then the stakes are so much higher. You're not dealing with merely a good man.

You're not dealing with a well-spoken teacher. You're not dealing even with a mere prophet sent by God. No, you are now confronted with the creator of the universe, the one who has supreme authority over everything, including your soul. Beloved, you're accountable to him. Beloved, these men before our Lord are accountable to him.

Now to oppose Jesus is to oppose God Himself. His words are the words of God. The invitations that He's given are the invitations of God. His salvation is the salvation of God. To oppose this Jesus then is to declare war against God.

You see, you see how the stakes are much higher now. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. So what is the Jewish people's response? Do they submit to the truth? Do they submit to the truth that Jesus has been espousing, that very truth that will set them free?

No. No, verse 59 tells us so clearly, they pick up stones. to throw at him. They pick up stones, beloved, to throw at him. These aren't pebbles.

These Jews weren't simply interested in shooing Jesus out of the temple, as if to say, look, you're defiling places, leave. No, these would have been big stones, possibly found in a pile of construction rocks or something, capable of inflicting some serious damage. Because they weren't interested in inflicting a few bumps and scratches. They were bent. They were bent on killing this one who stands before them and stands and declares in no uncertain terms, I am your God.

As far as they were concerned, Jesus has become a blasphemer. And according to the prescription given in the law, they were to stone blasphemers like him with no pity. Now a trial would need to be in order and these men in their fury overlooked that important point, but nonetheless, they knew what Jesus was saying and what that warranted. And in their mind, picking up stones to stone him was fully justified. But beloved, there's no misunderstanding.

There are no misunderstandings going on here. So many have tried to dismiss the words of our Lord just means something that they don't. But listen to me and listen to me very, very carefully. Jesus meant what he said, and he said what he meant. Beloved, if he was only concerned to answer the last statement of him pre-existing Abraham, if he just wanted to tell these people, okay, I was there before Abraham.

He could have quite simply said before Abraham was. I was. He would have easily settled that matter. They would not believe him, we know that much, but he would have been able to answer them and avoid their fiery fury. But that's not what he said.

Nor is it what he wished to say. No. Words that came out of our Lord's mouth were before Abraham was. I am. And for those who say Jesus was misunderstood, don't you think, don't you think if that was the case, now would be a pretty good time to clear up the air?

Just think about it. Think about what is at stake. Think about what the Jews are about to do to him. Beloved, any other time and misconception, misunderstandings have happened because as I said, without spiritual discernment, these things can happen. We've got examples in scripture where angels or prophets or apostles, they were mistook for deity as well.

And they were absolutely horrified at the notion that someone would see them as the living God. And immediately they pursued to clear themselves of that blasphemy. They tore their clothes in some instances, and they quickly freed themselves of that blasphemy, making things right. Jesus misspoke or was misunderstood. Now is the time to clear it up.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. He could have said, before you throw those stones in fury, let me explain. You misunderstood what I was saying, but no, not even a hint of retraction. Before Abraham was, I am. Beloved, there is no doubt what's happening here.

Jesus is claiming of himself, deity. That's all there is to it. And anyone who tries to argue otherwise, their arguments are futile. And the point I've tried to make all along is that it's not as though you need to wait until the second last verse of the eighth chapter to realize who Jesus is claiming to be. It's taken this long for the Jewish people in their ignorance to see.

Beloved, the doctrines of the deity of Jesus Christ doesn't rest in a verse or two here and there. The deity of Christ is the thread that connects the whole of the scripture for those who have eyes to see. Even in the fourth gospel alone, from the very first verse, the Apostle Paul wishes to make, my apologies, the Apostle John wishes to make that point crystal clear. In the first verse, he says, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

Both God and with God in the beginning. The word, the son is distinct from the father, but one in divine nature and being with him. Just in case you raise the question of who asked the question, who is this word? In verse 14, the apostle John, an inspiration on the spirit tells us, he says, and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen his glory, glory as of the son from the father, full of grace.

Get ready, the Apostle John is saying. From the onset, from the very first word, the Apostle John is saying, get ready, the next 21 chapters that I'm about to write under inspiration of the Spirit is about the gracious, this gracious God who became flesh. And in the text before us, I've tried to show you over the last year or so, in the time our Lord was in Jerusalem at the back end of the Feast of Booths, I've tried to show that all along Jesus is claiming of himself to be divine. His audience are too spiritually ignorant to see it, but he has been saying all along, I am God in flesh. Think back with me for a few moments.

It's fitting as we bring this chapter to a close to quickly review some of Jesus's claims, to recognize what he's spoken throughout the discourse, beloved, cannot. cannot be misunderstood or cannot be understood, I should say, apart from him claiming to be divine. Let's just look at a handful of his claims, shall we? From our Lord's first words in the discourse in verse 12, and that's what we began with, where he says, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Can you not see in those words how Jesus is claiming of himself, deity, that you don't need to wait until verse 58 to see it? From the beginning it was known to all, even with a cursory understanding of scripture, that is the Old Testament, that the source and the very substance of light in the Old Testament has always been attributed to Yahweh. Think about, again, the first chapter in the Bible, Genesis chapter one, the earth was in complete darkness, we're told, and then, and God said, let there be what? Light. And there was light.

Whose light dispelled the darkness? The light, Yahweh. Moving forward, the light in Scripture speaks to the salvation of God. Light in Scripture speaks to the truth of God. Light in Scripture speaks to the life of God.

And even the manifestation of the glory of God in many ways, but especially relevant to the time of the feast that is at hand here before Jesus' audience is the light from the pillar of fire that led the path for their ancestors. in the wilderness for some 40 years. And here you have Jesus claim that he is the light of the world. If they could understand his words, beloved, they would have picked up stones to stone him even before the discourse began. Verse 16, Jesus claims that if he judges, his judgments are true.

because His judgments are perfectly consistent with that of the Father. Now think about those words. If I judge, my judgments are true. Think about all the pieces that are required to fit together in order for those words from the mouth of our Lord to be true. But beloved, this is so important because through the discourse of our Lord, He will make judgments against his accusers.

He will make judgments against his audience. He'll peer into their soul and make absolute statements like, you do not know the father. So what is required of him to be able to make judgment, those sort of judgment calls and for those judgments to be true. Beloved, I've said it before, and I'm gladly saying it again. Human judges do their best.

But how many times, how many times have we heard those horror stories of people being convicted for life sentences only to be found innocent some 10 or 20 years later in some instances after they had died in prison? Why is that? Ask yourself, why is that? Because in the human courts, judgment calls are made with the evidence presented to the judge. In other words, a judge's verdict is only as good as the knowledge he has acquired.

New evidence surfaces, more knowledge arises, and the case is reopened. But in verse 16, Verse 16, if the contents of verse 16 is true from the mouth of our Lord, if I judge, my judgment is true. Beloved, let me ask you what is required for those words to be authentic. What is required by our Lord to hand out a verdict and to know that it is final and it will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be repealed. Beloved, nothing less than perfect knowledge.

Who, I ask you, has perfect knowledge? If I judge, my judgment is true. Again, if the Jews had spiritual discernment, if they were able to understand that they would have picked up stones even then, to stone him, because he's claiming to be God. Moving forward, verse 19, you know, neither me nor my father, Jesus says, if you knew me, you would know my father. You hear those words?

What's our Lord saying? If you knew me, or if you knew me, you would know my father. Simply said, he's saying what he said. In chapter 14, in chapter 10, my apologies, I and the father are one. Let me simplify for you even further.

Practically he's saying, I am. We're flying through these. Verse 23. You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world.

Only two distinctions can be made, beloved. And we've said it over and over again. That one, one is of a creator. He's the one from above and not of this world. And the second is the creature.

That's the two categories. The creature is from below and from this world. Every being. fits into one of those two categories. The first is reserved for God alone, beyond, above creation.

He's the uncreated one, the uncaused cause, and all the rest. into category number two, the creaturely category. That's the category Jesus attributes to his audience, but he himself, he places himself in that first category, the uncreated category, again, claiming of himself deity. Then in verse 41, 31, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Abide in my word.

If you abide in my word, in verse 47, whoever is of God, he's the words of God. The reason why you don't hear that he's saying is that you are not of God is Jesus claiming that his words are the very words of God. He doesn't introduce them as the prophets of old. You don't hear Jesus saying thus says the Lord. My Words.

Now it's true that his words are the words of the father, a point he'd made over and over again in this chapter, but they are his words, my words. Even in verse 51, truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. Beloved, let me ask you, whose word possesses that type of power? power to release the chains of death and to bestow life eternal. I ask you, whose word has that power?

I am. Deed. Do you know why his words in verse 36 ring true? Those words, if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Beloved only because verse 55 is also 58 is also true.

Truly, truly, I say to you before Abraham was, I am. Brothers and sisters, these were just a handful of examples from chapter eight. And believe me, brothers and sisters, when I say that there were many more left on the table. But I want you to simply recognize that Jesus, our Lord, was claiming deity all along. But the Jews simply could not see it because of their darkened hearts and their spiritual ignorance rooted in pride.

And that is the state of all who are born in Adam. Both Jew and Gentile, apart from the divine intervention That's the state of the natural man. But just because they cannot see with their eyes, doesn't mean that scripture and indeed this chapter is not immersed in that truth. Jesus is the son of God, God himself. He is the great I am.

So why does it matter? Why does it matter? Well, simply said, the high and the lofty promises made by this carpenter from Nazareth, those such as freedom of the shackles of sin, those such as the absolving of those sins before the eyes of a holy God, those promises such as the reconciliation, a promise of reconciliation, and an intimate relationship between sinful man and the Holy God who cannot look upon sin, that which was lost in the garden. That promise of eternal life and never to taste spiritual death again are all promises that cannot be made by a mere man. Beloved, that's why it matters.

If Christ was a mere man, His words would be empty of power to accomplish these things. And He would be a blasphemer to utter them on His lips. Before we get to verse 58, if Jesus is not claiming deity of Himself, then everything is meaningless. Beloved, if you were to read the Old Testament, All of you, no matter who you are, I'm convinced you would recognize that the words of Jonah in chapter 2 verse 9 are right on the mark. Salvation belongs to Yahweh.

Salvation belongs to Yahweh. Beloved brothers and sisters, remember that truth. Etch that truth in your heart. Salvation belongs to God. Oh, if we keep that fact in our hearts, how things become so much clearer when we read God's word, when we examine scripture, when we think about who our Lord is, when we're engaging in dialogue with others, and when we are establishing the deity of Christ, if we remember that fact that salvation belongs to Yahweh.

it would make things so much more clearer. Because there are many times I believe that truth may be staring us in our eyes, and yet we may not recognize it because we don't remember that salvation belongs to God. Salvation belongs to God. So with that in mind, how are we to understand, for example, the verse that we have all come to learn and love, that most popular verse in the whole of the scripture. What is it?

I'll give you a moment to shout it out. What is the most popular verse in all of scripture? John 3, 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. life. Have you ever seen the deity of Christ in that verse?

Have you ever come to realize that if Jesus is not the great I am, this verse falls to bits? Beloved, in whom does this verse compel us to believe in For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him, whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life or eternal life in Him. Who is the in Him? Whoever believes in the Son. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is to be the object of our faith.

for salvation. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is to be the object of our faith for salvation. Beloved, faith for salvation in anyone or anything less than the only true God is blasphemous. Remember, salvation is of the Lord. So now before us, we have inspired writ that is telling us that our faith is to be in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How is it that that verse is to be understood? Let me tell you, turn your eyes back to verse 23 through 25 in chapter eight. He said to them, you are from below. I am from above. You're of this world.

I'm not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins. You will die unforgiven unless you believe that I am he. You will die in your sins. So they said to him, who are you?

And Jesus said to them, just what I've been telling you from the beginning. all along i've been telling you who i am but you're too ignorant in your pride to see beloved when we considered that verse or those verses a few months back i told you I told you that the he is not found in the original where it says, for unless you believe that I am he, that he is not in the original text. It's been added by the translators for clarification because it's true. Ego, I, me, that's ego, I, me means I am. Ego, I, me can and has been used in scripture to simply say it is I.

But I truly believe that our Lord is saying in these verses much more than it is I. You see, His identity is in question. Who are you? After expressing that He is not of this world, I believe He is purposeful in saying, unless you believe that I am, that I am, you will die in your sins. because the object of one's faith for salvation in anything less than God is absolutely blasphemous.

We must never put our faith in anything less, in anyone less. And so the only way Jesus is justified in declaring that he should be the object of our faith is if Jesus is indeed the great I am. And for you and I to acknowledge salvation is of the Lord, and yet still place our full trust, our faith in Christ, then we must, we must acknowledge that He is Yahweh, or anything else. would make our faith useless because our faith is only as good as its object. Hear this beloved, our faith is only as good as the object of that faith.

I assure you, I assure you upon the testimony of scripture, that if you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, you have placed your faith in none other than the only true God who saves. The Jews only now realize what our Lord has been saying all along. So they pick up stones. Jesus makes his way out of the temple. Why?

Because his hour had not yet come. His hour will come in about six months or so. It will come. And that hour is when the son of God, the great I am, will lay down his life for his sheep It's when the great I am will lay down his life for his bride. It's when the great I am will lay down his life for his church.

Beloved, what an elevated view of the cross. I know it's hard for our human minds to comprehend, but he was God on that cross of Calvary. was God on that cross. Anyone less and our salvation would not have been possible. Anyone less than God himself be hung on that cross and to be the object of our faith and our faith is completely useless.

In the words of the apostle Paul, Beloved words, I would not dare to utter unless they were written under inspiration of the Spirit of God. Words found in Acts chapter 20, the purchase price for the redemption of his church, we're told, is the blood of God. It's a mystery. It may make you feel a little uncomfortable as it does I. But the blood of Christ that was shed was the blood of God because it was God.

It was the great I am who hung on that cross. Why does it matter that both Jesus is the great I am and that we believe that he is the great I am? Because in his own words, unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. For before Abraham was, I am. Let's pray.