"i Am!" Outlandish And Outrageous, But True Series

March 28, 2010

John 8:48-59

I AM!!

Has anyone said anything that is so outlandish, so unbelievable that, well . . . you just could not believe it? Right now I’m not sure what to believe. Just about everything I hear seems outrageous. Frankly, I don’t know who to believe, but that’s a whole different conversation.

In all honesty, something outrageous would be someone believing the Chicago Bears will sin the Super Bowl! Or it’s receiving one of those emails or faxes telling me someone needs a few thousand dollars and they’ll send me millions! Yeah, found that harder to believe than Bill Gates sending you free money.

We hear some pretty amazing things, check on the Internet or carefully choose which news program you’re going to watch.

Well, on our first day back in church . . . we’re going to conclude our series of I AM statements from Jesus. I saved the best, most outrageous and outlandish I AM statement that Jesus made.

Throughout John 8, Jesus has been explaining “He is the Light of the World and that He’s the Messiah.” The Jews continue to argue with Him. And, frankly, Jesus is not one you want to get into an argument with. He’ll always win and in the process lead you to discover new truths about yourself, truths you probably won’t like.

Understand that Jesus was a radical! He was so extreme to the Jewish leaders. Yet, He was a breath of fresh air to the downtrodden, to those who were considered less than. He came for the sick and the hurting. . . to bring wholeness and healing.

He challenged the conventional wisdom of the day and challenged the narrow minded thinking. He called for a change in the way people live their lives. Think about what He calls us to do –

Bless those who curse you,

forgive those who persecute you,

love your enemies,

walk the extra mile,

give your coat to those who ask,

to gain your life, you must lose your life, and

the wealthy would have a more difficult time entering heaven

These were words the Jews didn’t want to hear. Actually, those are words most of us don’t want to hear. We really struggle with them. I mean if we were to be really, really honest today. Let me ask you - - - how many of you really want

To bless those who curse you?

love our enemies?

Forgive those who hurt us? Christ says . . . we must.

How many of us are willing to give our lives to Christ, fully and completely?

So, the Jews and Jesus are going back and forth. They’re trying to tell Jesus how wrong He is. As the argument goes on, we come to a point where Jesus is going to reveal more of Himself than the Jews could take. Listen to the conversation from John 8:48-58 - -

48 The Jews answered Jesus, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge.

51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

52 The Jews 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, he will never taste death.’

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who 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 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.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

This passage started with the Jewish leaders claiming Jesus was a Samaritan and was demon-possessed. Think about it, He went from respected teacher to a demon possessed man who was a Samaritan. Why would they say this? Because they ran out of arguments against Him, and were now digging into the irrational. They said anything they could think of to hurt Him and incite others against Him.