“I AM…”

Scripture:            Exodus 3:1-6, 13-14

C.I.:                GOD!

In the Gospel of John Jesus is asked numerous times who He is (cf. 5:12; 8:25, 53; 12:34; 21:12) -
John’s gospel was written to answer that – (Quote 20:30-31). – In this series Jesus will answer with “I AM…”

I. Is He or Isn’t He?

1. Jesus Calls Four to the Witness Stand:  (Before a jury of His enemies!)

a. Today in a court of law – you need to provide enough witnesses – to prove your case!!

b. John the Baptist – (Jn. 5:33), “You have sent to John, and he has borne witness of the truth.”

1) (Jn. 1:29), “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

2) (Jn. 1:34), “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

c. The Works – (John 5:36), “But the witness that I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given to Me to accomplish, the very works that I do bear witness of Me.”

1) (Jn. 9:32), “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person who was born blind.”

d. The Father – (Jn. 5:37), “And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me.”

1) Jesus baptism - (Matt. 3:17), “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.”

2) Transfiguration – (Matt. 17:5), “This is My beloved Son with whom…, listen to Him.”

e. The Bible – (Jn. 5:39), “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me.”

1) (Isa. 7:14), “Behold, a virgin shall be with Child and bear a son, and she will call His….”

2) (Isa. 9:6), “A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

f. We have been provided us with more than enough witnesses – to prove Jesus is GOD
 – (Matt. 18:16), “By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every fact be confirmed!”

B. “SO WHAT?!”  (What Good is this Knowledge to Us) 

1. It comes down to a matter of perspective (Worldly vs. Spiritual)

a. In talking to those who don’t believe – Jesus said, (Jn. 8:23), “‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.” – These have a  WORLDLY perspective!

b. Yet in praying for those who did believe – Jesus said, (Jn. 17:16), “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

2. Only those who accept that JESUS IS GOD – will receive the spiritual benefits He provides:

a. Jesus gives water to the thirsty - (4:14), “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” – THESE UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL WATER JESUS GIVES!

b. Jesus gives food to the hungry – (6:27), “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you.” – THE SPIRITUALLY-MINDED UNDERSTAND THE FOOD JESUS PROVIDES!

c. Jesus gives light to those in darkness – (8:12), “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” – THESE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND SPIRITUAL DARKNESS!

d. Jesus gives life to the dead – (11:25), “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.” – THEY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL LIFE AND SPIRITUAL DEATH!

e. You may be one of those who is saying, “I don’t get it!  I don’t understand!” –

1) I have one thing to say to you if this is the case – “GOOD!”

2) Because for the next several Sundays – I am going to make it my personal mission – to help you come to know who Jesus is!!!

3. Now, for those who already know Him - …LORD’S SUPPER!

4. So what?! - We cannot be ambivalent (i.e., “It doesn’t really matter”) – about Jesus being God.

a. Those who do not accept His deity – seek to destroy His humanity!

1) (Jn. 8:58), “Jesus said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born I AM!’”

2) The Jews knew what He meant, (cf. Ex. 3) - (Jn. 8:59), “They picked up stones to throw at H.

b. Yet for those who understand it – and receive this into their lives – it makes all the difference…

1) (Jn. 1:12), “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God,  - who were born not of blood [family heritage], nor of the will of the flesh [doing good works], nor of the will of man [choosing our own way in], but of God.”

2) God alone sets the criteria for who can become one of His children - (Jn. 3:3, 5), “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. – Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

3) “How is one ‘born of water & the Spirit’? – (Mk. 16:16), “He who has believed [“You have been born again, not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God,” I Peter 1:23], and has been baptized [“born of water” Jn. 3:5], shall be SAVED!”