The Great I Am

As we have been studying the gospel of John, in these last couple of weeks we saw how Jesus was having a long dialogue with the Jews. Last Sunday we saw how Jesus was making some very honest, direct statements to them about what it means to be in the family of God and to have God as their Father.

He was telling them point blank that they didn’t belong to God or His family, that there was zero family resemblance. Let’s turn to the last passage in John 8 and see how they responded. 

John 8:48 - 59

48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan, and You have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; on the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But I am not seeking My glory; there is One who seeks it, and judges.

51 Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone follows My word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets as well; and yet You say, ‘If anyone follows My word, he will never taste of death.’

53 You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are You? The prophets died too. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 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’; 55 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 I follow His word.

56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds.

In this passage we see that Jesus was

• Honoring God

• Living for God

Honoring God

Obviously, these Jews didn’t like what they heard and literally stated that Jesus, the Son of God, was demon possessed, and a Samaritan. But Jesus said, “I am not opposing God like the devil does, I am not an outsider or a lunatic, as you presume. On the contrary - I know the Father, I know and speak His words, I have come to reveal His heart for this world.”

In other word,

and give Him the glory. He had no desire to glorify Himself but said that God would glorify Him. He knew that when He humbled Himself in absolute submission to His Father’s will (which meant death on the cross), that in time, God would honor and glorify Him. But Jesus wasn’t seeking that glory - He was simply honoring His Father and doing His will.

In verse 50, Jesus said that He wasn’t seeking His own honor, and even though the Jews claimed to honor God, one day God will judge whether people really lived to honor Him or like these Jews, put on a good outward show while seeking honor for themselves. 

Then we see how Jesus builds on several promises He had been making throughout the gospel of John. In John 5:24, He told them,

I tell you the truth, the person who listens to my message and believes and trusts in God who sent me, already possesses eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins but have already passed over from death into life (John 5:24).

He said, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (8:31-32). Again in verse 51 He said,

Whoever responds to my words, receiving and believing my promise, will never ever taste death (John 8:51).

They were really trying to belittle, embarrass, and shame Him but Jesus was not intimidated by them.

Living for God

In verse 54 Jesus replies: I am not here for myself, I don’t have my own agenda, I am not here to bring glory to myself.

What matters is what God has to say about me, and that I do His will. You say you know God but there’s no commitment to Him, to His words and His will. You are not living to bring Him glory but to yourselves. You may be fooling others and even yourself, but you aren’t fooling God.

It is important to remember who you are, what your purpose is, and who you serve. Whose words and ways ultimately matter most? Who are we living to please? Ourselves, others, or God?

While Jesus lived to do His Father’s will, to reveal His Father’s love for the world, the Jews did everything to oppose Him because they were children of their father the devil. In verse 56, Jesus said,

Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced (John 8:56).

Abraham was looking forward to the promise of the coming of the Messiah. He expected it. Jesus made it very personal by saying Abraham was looking for “my day” and he saw it and rejoiced.

The word “I am” can be used in the present tense like “I am walking the dog,” “I am on the road,” or “I am his father.” However, Jesus used I Am as a stand-alone description of Himself.

God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else, and His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances.

Jesus was saying, “I was Abraham’s assurance while he waited for the promises to be fulfilled, I was Moses’ strength, when he faced pharaoh and lead 2 million people out of slavery in Egypt. I led them for 40 years and faithfully provided for them. I was Solomon's wisdom, so I am with any who have placed their trust in me.”

This is our comfort today, knowing that Jesus knows your past, knows what the day will bring, knows your future.

He never gets tired, He never fails, never misses a thing in your lives. “I am just as powerful, personal, merciful, patient, faithful, good, holy and righteous today as I was in eternity past. As I was with Adam & Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, all the men and women you read about in the Scriptures, so I am with you.

I am perfect in every way, I never change, and I will never leave you. I don’t just comfort you or heal you, help you, provide for you, give you hope and you life, I AM your comforter, I AM your healer, I AM your provider, I AM your hope

I am the Great I AM.