“I Am”

John 8:48-59

Review• Earlier in this discussion with the Jews, Jesus

twice referred to Himself as “I am”– John 8:24, 28– The Jews did not understand what He meant,

assuming He had simply left off the object of the sentence, ‘I am ____’ • They even asked for clarification (Jn 8:25a)

• Then He showed that a child’s father can be known by the behavior of the child– Jesus lived without sin and in complete

harmony with God’s word – God is His Father– The Jews were lying in order to kill an innocent

man – Satan was their father

Charges against Him• John 8:48

– Jesus had asked what sin He could be accused of (v46), they couldn’t come up with a sin

• But they did attempt to discredit Him

– Proving Jesus’ point that they lied freely to keep from obeying the truth, they accuse Jesus of …

• Being a Samaritan– A completely false and baseless charge

» His presence the past week in the court of Israel during the feast would have meant death (immediately by stoning) for any non-Jew

– More likely being used as a ethnic or religious slur

• Being demon-possessed– A charge made several times, somewhat analogous to “He’s

crazy”

Jesus’ response• John 8:49

– He ignores the Samaritan comment since it was knowingly false (1 Pet 2:23: Psa 69:7-9)

– Denies the demon-possession charge• Provides proof He is not demon-possessed

– He honors His Father» By His life, His teachings, His miracles, all in

accordance with God’s will (v29)» A demon would neither be willing, nor capable,

of honoring the Father in that way (Mt 12:24-30)

– Reverses the charge• By dishonoring the Father’s Son, they were

dishonoring the Father (Jn 5:23; Mk 12:1-12)– That was something a demon would do

Glory• John 8:50

– Jesus says He was not seeking His own glory• He was not trying to be honored by those who

had insulted Him• But neither did He allow what they said to deter

Him from speaking truth– He was merely correcting them (2 Tim 2:24-26)

» An example for us to follow

– There is One who seeks (glory for Jesus)• That would be God (Mt 3:17, 17:5; Jn 17:1-5)

– And He is the One who judges• He will determine whether the charges against

Jesus are true or lies; and who deserves glory

Eternal life• Speaking of God as the judge . . .

• John 8:51– There is one certain way, the only way, to avoid

being condemned• Keep the words of Christ

• Not just some or a few, but all– Mt 28:18-20, for example

– “Never see death” – not referring to physical death since all die (Heb 9:27)• But rather the second death (Rev 2:11)

• He is offering eternal life

Who do You think You are?• John 8:52-53

– The Jews take this last statement as proof Jesus was demon-possessed• Everyone dies, so how can Jesus offer eternal

life?

• Even Abraham and the prophets all died– [They apparently forgot about Enoch and Elijah]

– Is Jesus claiming to be greater than Abraham and the prophets?• The Jews are asking, ‘Just Who do You think You

are?’

Who is Jesus?• John 8:54-56

– If Jesus declares His own titles / position, that would be honoring Himself• It would mean nothing, and perhaps demean Him

– The Father (God) honors Jesus• Directly through His voice

• Through His scriptures / prophecies

• Through allowing the miracles to be performed

– Yet the Jews don’t really know God• If they did, they would have recognized and

honored His Son, and they would keep His word

Who is Jesus?– Jesus does know God, because He is His Son

• To deny that knowledge would be lying

• His sinless life is proof of His knowing God

• Back to the question of Who Jesus is– Abraham knew the answer

• Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus’ day – Heb 11:13 – He saw them afar off, prophecy

• “and he saw and was glad”– Now put into the past tense

» Either Abraham during his life saw Jesus (pre-incarnate) or Abraham, after death, was made aware of Jesus birth

Have You seen Abraham?• John 8:57

– The Jews understood Jesus to have meant that Abraham saw Jesus during Abraham’s life• Jesus wasn’t 50 (actually in His early 30s)

• How could He claim to have seen Abraham or be seen by Abraham?

I AM• John 8:58

– “Before Abraham was, I AM”• His earlier uses of “I am”, could be misconstrued

as simply forgetting to complete the thought

• Not possible here

• Not “I was” – a claim to simple existence

• But “I AM” – a claim to eternal existence

• What does “I AM” mean?– God is self-existent (not created) (Isa 43:10-13)– God is continuously involved in the lives of

men…through all generations (Ex 3:13-17)

Did the Jews understand this claim?• John 8:58

– They understood the claim and rejected it as blasphemy• Were willing to immediately stone Him to death

– And Jesus demonstrates exactly what He just claimed, that He is God• He hid Himself and walked through their midst

– They knew His face and were going to kill Him– They were just talking to Him– And He hid Himself (a miracle) right before their

eyes, and simply walked out of the temple

Conclusion• Jesus, clearly stated His divinity

– They had asked Him who He claimed to be– And He gave them an answer that can not be

understood in any other way, “I AM”

• The Jews rejected that claim

• Jesus said the Father would judge– By allowing Jesus to miraculously hide Himself

while in plain sight, God gave His answer

• On the day of judgment, all will acknowledge the truth (Phil 2:9-11)