Text: Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
Story: “The Incomparable Christ”
In infancy He startled a king; in boyhood He puzzled the doctors, in manhood He walked upon the billows and hushed the sea to sleep.
He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His services. He never wrote a book, yet not all the libraries of the country could hold the books that could be written about Him.
He never wrote a song, yet He has furnished the theme of more songs than all song writers combined. He never founded a college, yet all the schools together cannot boast of as many students as He has.
Great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. Death could not destroy Him; the grave could not hold Him.
-------------------Forman Linicome
He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
Do you know this individual?
Have you heard of Him?
Has He done anything for you?
Does He occupy first place in your life and in your heart?
Who is He?
Story: “Who Is the Man?”
A few years ago the principal of the English Mission College at Cairo, Egypt, received a letter from a Japanese Buddhist of the city whose children were attending his school. “Who is John three sixteen? My children are always talking about him?”
The principal sent a note back saying that “John three sixteen” was not a person but a verse out of a book.
He promptly received another letter from the man. “Can you supply me with a copy of the book?”
A copy was sent and although the man was then leaving Cairo, the principal soon received word that the father and all members of the family had become Christians.
------------------Wesleyan Methodist
Could He be the Messiah talked about in the Old Testament?
He is indeed the Messiah or “the anointed One”. He was God’s Son who came to this earth to carry out a particular and very important mission. He was on a deliverance mission for God the Father. Yes, He was a divine person.
Moses talks about the Messiah in Genesis 3:15. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel”.
These words were spoken to the serpent after the fall of man. The serpent or Satan is our enemy just as he was an enemy to Adam and Eve. He works in direct opposition to the Lord. His object is to draw people away from God and lead them down the path of destruction.
God knew Satan would continue to try and motivate man to move in direct opposition to Him. He tempted Adam and Eve as he has tempted and still tempts people this very day. God was indicating that a strike on the heel was nothing compared to a crushed head.
When God spoke these words to the serpent, He was speaking of His plan to defeat Satan and save the souls of people through His Son Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Isaiah talked about the Messiah by saying, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
His entrance into the world was not the usual way. He was born without a sinful nature. He was a descendant of David. He was in human form and suffered all that any human would suffer.
The prophets spoke of Him, but many did not understand the deep meaning of their message. The messages of the old prophets really form a picture of the Messiah.
When John the Baptist came upon the scene, he was asked the same question: “Who are you?” (John 1:22) John used the words of Isaiah who said, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (John 1:23).
Some of the religious leaders thought that John was the prophet foretold by Moses when he said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
As you recall, the people did listen to John. They believed what he had to say. His message was like one they had never heard. People followed him and his popularity increased.
Then on the other hand there was a possibility John was Elijah because of the words spoken in Malachi 4:5. The words, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.” Elijah was indeed one of the greatest prophets used by God. It was thought that John might be this great prophet Malachi was referring to.
Some people also thought that John might be the Messiah or the false prophet. John was not either one of these people. He merely called himself “A voice of one calling: ‘in the desert prepare the way for the LORD’” (Isaiah 40:3).
Many people still believed John to be the Messiah. Luke 3:15-16 says, “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possible be the Christ. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’”
After the prophet Malachi, there were no other prophets for the next 400 years. John appeared to be the one people were waiting for.
He seemed to fit the picture of the Messiah because he spoke like a prophet when he encouraged people to turn from their sins. John wanted people to direct their attention to God who would provide mercy and support for them.
John was very enthusiastic and full of energy. He seemed to know what he was talking about. His actions were actions of concern, interest and well-being. He had no worldly possessions. “He was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4).
If you were living in days of John and you were waiting for the Messiah, what would you have thought seeing this man? I would have probably said, “He is different. His dress is not the usual and his food is certainly unusual. We haven’t a prophet for 400 years and this man fits the description. His appearance is different and his words are strong and powerful and convincing.”
As John was baptizing one day in the Jordan River, he looked up and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant what I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel” (John 1:30-31).
This man, Jesus came into this world to save mankind. Man is born with a sinful nature, but Jesus was sinless. He came to give man the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in His kingdom. He lived as man and faced the same situations that man faced.
He was tempted by Satan just as man is tempted, but he did not give in to temptation, but in each instance, He quoted the Word of His Father. When the devil asked Him to change the stones into bread, Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Satan wanted Jesus to cast Himself down from the highest point of the temple, but Jesus said, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:7).
Satan struck out twice, but was not ready to give up. Satan’s lasts temptation was to offer all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus if He would just bow and worship him. Jesus response was: “Away from me, Satan! ‘For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:10).
After Satan’s third strike, he departed from Jesus and the angels came to minister to Him. Angels were a very important part of Jesus’ life. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary with the announcement: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:26, 28).
Gabriel said to Mary, “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Then an angel appeared to Joseph and assured him everything was on the level. There was no need for him to consider breaking the engagement.
The angels announced the arrival of Jesus into this world. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger’” (Luke 2:8-12). After this announcement, many angels appeared praising God.
An angel also appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, “Get up and take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” (Matthew 2:13).
Finally, when Jesus was praying His heart out in the Garden of Gethsemane, “an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him” (Luke 22:43). He prayed so hard that “His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).
Angels played a very important role in Jesus’ life. Jesus was more than man, He was God the Messiah. God the Father had so much love for His children that He was willing to let His Son suffer so that salvation could be a reality to each of His children.
You ask the question: “Who is He? Who is this man? Why did He come? What has He done for us? Who does He say He is?
Jesus says, “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). What is He telling us? What does He mean He is the gate for the sheep.
In Jesus’ day, sheep and shepherds were a common sight. He used this analogy because people could relate to the sheep and the shepherd. After the sheep grazed all day long, the shepherd would try to find a place he could keep his sheep for the night.
The shepherd was like a door so that his sheep did not wander off. By the same token, Jesus was saying He is the gate or the way to salvation for us. He protects us just as the shepherd protects his sheep. It is through Him that each of us is able to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). He is the good shepherd to each one of us giving us the security, protection and food for our soul. He gave His life for us just as a shepherd would give his life for his sheep.
Jesus went on to say, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). We all know that we must have food to stay alive. We probably all eat bread or have eaten bread. Bread is a good filler and satisfies our hunger. We could survive for a long time on bread and water. We eat bread and other foods to satisfy our physical hunger.
How do we satisfy our spiritual hunger? There is only one way and that way is a right relationship with God the Son. Without spiritual food, our eternal destiny is outside the realm of God’s kingdom. Jesus called Himself the bread of life so that people could associate bread in the physical realm with bread in the spiritual realm. When we walk daily with Jesus, we will be able to fulfill our spiritual hunger.
All of us know how important light is in our existence. If we did not have light, life as we know it would not exist. We can see when it is daylight or the light is on, but we cannot see in the dark. If total darkness was upon us at all times, we would not be able to survive.
Without light, we would not have fruits and vegetables. Many of our nutrients would be gone. Our physical body would suffer. It is one thing for our physical body to suffer, but it is much more serious when our spiritual body suffers.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He is not only the Light, but He is the Creator of all life. He is the one who can lead us from a life of darkness, a life of sin, because He lights the path leading us down the road of righteousness.
When we follow Jesus, we can be assured we are on the straight and narrow road. When we walk with Jesus, we are not walking blindly. When we accept Him as our own personal Lord and Savior, our eternal destiny in His kingdom is guaranteed.
“Whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). His presence in our life is our protector and our guide in this sinful world. He will not let us stumble along the road of life because He loves us. His light is greater than any other light and is forever. He will give light to anyone who asks in faith.
Jesus is more than the Light. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Before Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, He said to Martha: “Your brother will rise again….I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:23, 25).
Jesus has great power. He is saying that He has power over life and death. All we have to do is believe in Him and accept Him. When we do this, we have the assurance to live just as He lives. We will die physically, but we will live forever spiritually just as He lives.
There is nothing more we need. When we have Jesus, we have, peace, joy, love, happiness, and the assurance of a room in the mansion just over the hilltop. We have it all. There is nothing greater.
Jesus also said, “I am the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus is telling us that He is our way to our Heavenly Father. The only way we can get to Almighty God, the Father, is through Him. There is no other way. When we unite with Jesus and trust His word, we are in the company of God the Father.
Jesus said He is the truth which means that He is the One who carries out the promises of the Father. All the promises of God, were carried forth by Jesus. When we unite with Jesus and He plays a major role in our daily walk through life, He will never leave us now or forever. Our life will become like His life.
Jesus was teaching about the importance of our union with Him and He related it to a grapevine. He said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1). We cannot be fruitful if we are not in union with Him. He is the vine and we are the branches.
If the branch is cut away from the vine, the branch will be of no use. If He is not a part of our life, then we are like the branch that has been cut from the vine. If we remain in union with Jesus, we can bear much fruit. We remain a part of the Vine when we believe His word, receive Him as our own Lord and Savior, do what His word says, and love our neighbor as He loves us.
His love will shine upon us enabling us to witness to others which in turn will bring others into His presence. In this way, the branch will be able to bear much fruit.
Conclusion:
Who is He? Who is this man?
The Pharisees said “He ate with publicans and sinners.” (Matthew 9:11)
Judas said, “I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent Blood.” (Matthew 27:4)
The soldiers at the cross said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54)
John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” (John 1:35)
The Apostle John said, “He is the bright and morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16)
Peter said, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)
The Angels in Heaven said, “Unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
God said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)
Who do you say Jesus is?
Amen.
