Sudden Impact 2 Series

Sudden Impact 2 – Series "I AM"

Thesis: John uses Jesus’ "I Am" proclamations to prove that Jesus was the Christ and these proclamations are pivotal for the Jews and Christians to understand. Jesus made a sudden impact statement to the Jewish nation when he said “I Am the Light of the World.”

Text: John 8:12-30

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

21Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

22This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”

25“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied. 26“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

Introduction:

In sermon one, we laid the foundation for the meaning of God’s name, "I Am". Let’s review.

"I Am" God’s name found in Exodus 3:14 was an answer to Moses when Moses asked for credentials to prove to Israel that God had indeed authorized him to lead them out of bondage and into freedom.

The disclosure of the name given from the burning bush which was not consumed, represents that this entity was eternal and constant. This scenario revealed to Moses and Israel that this was the same God of their forefathers. "I Am" there designates a characteristic (The Main One) that "I Am" represents absolute timeless existence. He always was but with the twist He is here now, present tense and He will be with us also into the future.

Joel Preston

My name is “I AM” I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “My name is “I AM.” He paused. I waited, He continued, “When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WAS.’ When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WILL BE.’ When you live in this moment it is not hard; I am there! My name is ‘I AM!’

The apostle John, in the New Testament revealed that Christ’s "I Am" statements reveal Him to be the same God of the Old Testament. Yes, He is the "Bread of Life". He is the only source for spiritual life sustaining food which enables us to live forever.

John then reveals Christ’s second "I Am!" proclamation in John 8:12.

Jesus said this sudden impact statement: “I Am the Light of the World” (8:12).

Visual Illustration – Light the candles in the front of the altar!