“Before Abraham Was, I AM” (Part 1 of 2)
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I don't think it's possible for a person to come face to face with Jesus uh when we read the Bible and his words speak out to us without realizing that there is a decision that has to be made. We either have to as we said last time bow down before him and worship him and receive him as the lord of glory and the savior of the world or else we walk away from him. [00:12:21]
Unless you believe that I am he, he said in verse 24, back in John chapter 8, remember John chapter 8 in in verse 24, he said to them, "Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." You see, there's a consequence to unbelief. The people say, "Well, I just don't believe." Doesn't really matter. Oh, yeah. It matters because you face eternal death. [00:20:42]
It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. It's as if the dialogue is taking place and they their mouths are working, their tongues are working, but their fingers are are in their ears. You can't even bear to hear what it is I'm saying to you. [00:06:18]
Now, the reason they're asking that is because Jesus has made these amazing claims. He's already told them, "I am the light of the world, and whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. I am the truth, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." And most recently, and anyone who keeps my word will never see death. [00:13:48]
Jesus has said to them when they accused him of working on the Sabbath, he says, "Well, you should know that my father is always working. I mean, he's in charge of the sun, the moon, the waves, the tides, and everything. He never stops in the order of creation. My father is working until now, and I'm actually working." [00:14:47]
When we think about this and we realize what is actually being recorded for us here, it's quite staggering, isn't it? And yet in conversation with people, that's exactly what we discover. We want to speak to them about Jesus and they do not believe what we tell them because they cannot bear to hear what is being said about Jesus. [00:08:00]
Jesus has to answer that question. The son of God has to look these fellas in the face when he has the power to command legions of angels to step down in the prospect of his death. How gracious, how kind is Jesus. [00:08:48]
And then, as we saw last time, truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. So, in other words, Jesus is calm in his explanation and not seeking my own glory. And then he is bold in his declaration. [00:09:31]
First of all, let's notice that in this entire dialogue here, these individuals, the Jews are still wrestling with the question of Jesus identity. They're still they still cannot get their heads if you like around the reality of what he's saying. And when they begin to approximate to it, they recoil from it. [00:11:35]
Well, he became a man. He was born into the world, living in the world. He never stopped being God's son. He was born in the same way that anyone else is born coming into the world according to the processes of the creative order. But he did not begin life nine months before he emerged [00:18:00]
In fact, it's a bit like these dreadful debates that uh well, they call them debates where we have political figures who try and say something and immediately they try and say anything at all. They're interrupted. They are accused. they're contradicted and so on. And this is exactly what's going on here. [00:04:44]
And in chapter 8, ever since Jesus has made the statement, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Ever since he has said that, he has been questioned. He's been interrupted. He's been contradicted. [00:04:18]
So, for example, in the section that begins uh with verse uh 39, which in my Bible has a heading, you are of your father the devil. It's quite a statement. Verse 42, Jesus said to them, "If God were your father," which is what they're claiming, "you would love me, for I came from God and I'm here. [00:05:45]
Now that is about as straightforward I think as a person can be. And as a result of that, it is very clear that his antagonists, the Jews on the other side of this uh fence as it were, it is clear to them that they are unable to keep up with him. [00:07:01]
Now we know that you have a demon. In other words, we thought you did, but now we're pretty certain that you do. We're able to conclude that that actually settles it. In verse in verse 48, uh, their statement is somewhat diffident, isn't it? Are we not right? [00:10:44]
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Unless you believe that I am he, he said in verse 24, back in John chapter 8, remember John chapter 8 in in verse 24, he said to them, "Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." You see, there's a consequence to unbelief. The people say, "Well, I just don't believe." Doesn't really matter. Oh, yeah. It matters because you face eternal death. [00:20:42]
It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. It's as if the dialogue is taking place and they their mouths are working, their tongues are working, but their fingers are are in their ears. You can't even bear to hear what it is I'm saying to you. [00:06:18]
Now, the reason they're asking that is because Jesus has made these amazing claims. He's already told them, "I am the light of the world, and whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. I am the truth, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." And most recently, and anyone who keeps my word will never see death. [00:13:48]
Jesus has said to them when they accused him of working on the Sabbath, he says, "Well, you should know that my father is always working. I mean, he's in charge of the sun, the moon, the waves, the tides, and everything. He never stops in the order of creation. My father is working until now, and I'm actually working." [00:14:47]
When we think about this and we realize what is actually being recorded for us here, it's quite staggering, isn't it? And yet in conversation with people, that's exactly what we discover. We want to speak to them about Jesus and they do not believe what we tell them because they cannot bear to hear what is being said about Jesus. [00:08:00]
Jesus has to answer that question. The son of God has to look these fellas in the face when he has the power to command legions of angels to step down in the prospect of his death. How gracious, how kind is Jesus. [00:08:48]
And then, as we saw last time, truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. So, in other words, Jesus is calm in his explanation and not seeking my own glory. And then he is bold in his declaration. [00:09:31]
First of all, let's notice that in this entire dialogue here, these individuals, the Jews are still wrestling with the question of Jesus identity. They're still they still cannot get their heads if you like around the reality of what he's saying. And when they begin to approximate to it, they recoil from it. [00:11:35]
Well, he became a man. He was born into the world, living in the world. He never stopped being God's son. He was born in the same way that anyone else is born coming into the world according to the processes of the creative order. But he did not begin life nine months before he emerged [00:18:00]
In fact, it's a bit like these dreadful debates that uh well, they call them debates where we have political figures who try and say something and immediately they try and say anything at all. They're interrupted. They are accused. they're contradicted and so on. And this is exactly what's going on here. [00:04:44]
And in chapter 8, ever since Jesus has made the statement, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Ever since he has said that, he has been questioned. He's been interrupted. He's been contradicted. [00:04:18]
So, for example, in the section that begins uh with verse uh 39, which in my Bible has a heading, you are of your father the devil. It's quite a statement. Verse 42, Jesus said to them, "If God were your father," which is what they're claiming, "you would love me, for I came from God and I'm here. [00:05:45]
Now that is about as straightforward I think as a person can be. And as a result of that, it is very clear that his antagonists, the Jews on the other side of this uh fence as it were, it is clear to them that they are unable to keep up with him. [00:07:01]
Now we know that you have a demon. In other words, we thought you did, but now we're pretty certain that you do. We're able to conclude that that actually settles it. In verse in verse 48, uh, their statement is somewhat diffident, isn't it? Are we not right? [00:10:44]
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