FBCWest 376 | Jesus – The I Am
Recorded On: 03/01/2020
Bulletin
FBCWest
March 1, 2020
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
“His Name Is Wonderful”
Praise and Worship
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 115:1 - 8
“Your Love Awakens Me”
“Resurrecting”
“Same Power”
“You are Here (Same Power)”
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“The Life and Ministry of Jesus The Messiah”
“Jesus – The I Am”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“I Believe“
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
Session started event.
You know?
All too often Christians walk around looking to feed it in. Angry and.
And all of these other kinds of things in.
I think there's a couple reasons for that. One, they get their eyes off of the Lord and onto the world.
And sometimes they forget.
Just how awesome and powerful our God is.
And that we are not waiting one day for the victory we already got it 'cause we've already defeated death. And it's just a matter we have eternal life. It's not life, death, life in his eternal.
So I think sometimes when people get upset at church, they leave.
And then they just kind of do their own thing and they forget. So one of the great benefits of worshiping together is to encourage one another and to worship and to hear the music that we sing in praise. That then reinforces.
Our determination that.
He walks beside me day by day.
We're looking today in our message and John Chapter 8 starting with verse 12. I will briefly tell you I'm skipping the first 11 verses in Chapter 8, 'cause If you'll notice in your bio was probably you'll see brackets, and those brackets say that there are some of the earlier manuscripts don't have this narative in it.
Since I'm not bright enough to know whether it belongs there or not I don't want to be accused of teaching that which is there. It's a. It's a wonderful story, and if it isn't true, it probably could have been, but.
As we've seen in James, the teacher is held to a much stricter account, so I don't want to go into so you can read it and determine for yourself whether it goes there.
In verse 12, it's a continuation of the fact that Jesus is in Jerusalem celebrating the feast of Tabernacles, also known as the feast of booths, also known as a coat, is one of the 3 times a year that all Jewish males were. If at all possible were required to attend. Jesus came up not publicly, not in the sense of like he will when he comes.
At the appropriate time and Passover.
And what we call Palm Sunday. But he comes because the Jewish religious leaders are more and more intent on getting rid of Jesus because they view him as a threat. And so they are seeking to kill him in in to arrest him and none of their plans thus far have materialized in even when they send out officers to arrest him, they don't.
Because it's not yet. Jesus is time, so he's continuing to teach universe 12, he says. Then Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. He follows me, will not walk in darkness, but it will have the light of life.
Now, during the time of Jesus is Earthly Ministry, when the Jews would celebrate the feast of Tabernacles, as we saw last week, one of the elements of that festival was the pouring of water, and the understanding that God had provided water for them as they wander through the wilderness.
And that Jesus had cried out that he was.
The water of life and that all that can't come down would have rivers of water is flowing through them. Another ceremony that was.
Done was the light festival.
Calling into Remembrance when God would leave them by a pillar of fire at night so that they could see as they made their journeys.
An in this celebration, what they would do is they would be the best way to describe it is if you would think of flood lights at a stadium. They would have these large poles and they would play soil an for which they would use the worn out.
Tunics of the priests, and so it was said that the light was so great in Jerusalem that there was not a corner in any courtyard that the light did not shine, and so using this both backdrop of the light illuminating and the historical aspect of God providing like Jesus says something very insignificant.
He says I am.
The life now Jesus will at 7 various times used the IAM statement specifically, he's used it previously when he said I am the bread of life and now teaching he saying I am the light.
Of the world.
Is not just the light of the Jews, he just not the light agenda. He is the light of the whole world. He is the one that shows us.
Where things are we get so used to light that?
There's even a. We even have a term in in the cities called light pollution. You can't see the vastness of the stars in the skies because there's so much light even when you're out in some dark area, because there still some kind of light generating and we don't appreciate just how dark darkness can be.
And when you're in darkness, you can't see where you're going. There's a saying that says I can't even see my hand in front of my face and Jesus is saying I am the light that provides the knocks away darkness and John uses as well as Jesus. The example of darkness being evil and peoples lives in light being would God does.
Or, after all, it was even in the creation God spoke first, let there be light.
And then he separated the light and darkness. So we see that God is like in Jesus saying I am.
Going back to when Moses asked.
God at the burning Bush.
Well, when I go to your people there gonna ask me what's your name?
And God says, my name is I am that I am.
So Jesus is pointed out that I am the light. I am God, I am that I am. I am not like light, I am liked.
I am the creator of light. I am the author of light and this light not only provides direction, but this light provides life.
I am the light of the world and he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have.
Notice he didn't say direction the light of life.
By following him, we have eternal life, that light that shows in that light that gives us direction.
One of the ways we know when it is God speaking is because he is giving us that light of life that we see that it's not darkness.
So the Pharaoh said to him, you are testifying about yourself in your testimony is not true. Now they're using the legalism insane well in order to prove a case you have to have the testimony of two or more witnesses.
Now.
They are not accurate.
They say your testimony is not true because you give.
The testimony.
You can still be truthful in your testimony is simply not corroborated. So in it court of law and the Jewish sense, you could not prove your case based on the testimony of one, but it doesn't mean the testimony of one isn't accurate, it's just that sorry you have improved your case 'cause you need 2 or 3 witnesses.
So they misquote the law because they said he's not accurate. This is not true.
And Jesus answered and said to them, even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true. For I know where I came from, and where I'm going.
Jesus, I know my origins in those oranges is God. I'm God I am.
And I know where I came from. I don't know where I'm going back to. I know those things.
None of us here. We all know that we were born.
And we have some evidence that says who are parents? 'cause we have a birth certificate?
But you are too little to No.
If they're lying to you.
As a matter of fact, some children who were adopted, their parents never tell them their adopted, and they assume that their parents are their birth parents.
Jesus and it's kind of sad when you don't know where you came from, your having to assume that I know where I came from. I came from heaven.
And that's where I'm going back to.
Jesus is for I know where I come from where I'm going, but you do not know where I come from or where I'm going.
Because I don't know, he's just saying I know main, I know where I came from I know where I'm going but you don't know where I came from and you don't know where I'm going. You don't even know who you are yourself.
You judge according to the flesh.
I am not judging anyone.
Jesus confirmed, remember he told Nick a demas. I did not come into the world to condemn the world as the world is condemned already.
Jesus is earthly ministry. Here is not to condemn us of our sins, but to save us from our sins.
When he comes back a second time, he will be the judge.
And he will determine all that is correct.
But not now. I am not judging, but even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I'm not alone in it, but I and the father who sent me.
Or even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.
So he saying in your courtroom.
If two men testify now in this.
Culture notice that 2 men he's using it specifically because women were disqualified from testifying.
Their test by wasn't true, which is one of the reasons why we know that the gospels are true, related to Jesus's resurrection.
Because the first people who witnessed the resurrection were women, and if you wanted to prove that Jesus rose from the dead and you were making it up, you would say women showed up because they wouldn't qualify.
I am he who testifies about myself.
Now he's not necessarily using the. I am as he did in the first one. He said I am the light, but I kind of think that he's using the plan words that they. Yeah I am God and I am the one who testifies about myself. So you say 2 men improve things. I am he, I am God.
And the father who sent me testifies about me. So I have 2 witnesses who are above men there God.
So they were saying to him, where is your father?
You see there thinking well his father.
Joseph, or somebody else, but he's saying no, no, no, that's not what I'm saying.
And Jesus answered, you know, neither main nor my father.
If you knew Maine, you would know my father also.
One of the problems that people have is they don't understand.
And it's hard for us to communicate.
And while Jesus is the son of God.
Is also the father. The father is also the son we we worship one God in 3 persons. Whenever we tried to describe that we become heretics.
Again, one of the things that that is a proof point of the Scriptures.
Because there is a concept that no human can understand.
One an yet 3, three and yet one.
But notice.
Jesus didn't say.
You know if you're gone.
To Sabbath School.
You don't understand all this about Maine, but you mess a mess up. He goes enough. She don't know me. You don't know the father who don't know the father. You don't know main, it's a relationship.
It's knowing who he is.
Because the father sent him.
And he is the I am.
These words he spoke in the Treasury.
As he taught in the temple, and no one sees him because his hour had not had come.
So you notice.
They want to get rid of him. There's this opposition and one of the reasons why Jesus limits his ministry in Jerusalem is because of the.
Opposition and his time not having him, but he there goes 2 minister in Jerusalem when appropriate.
And he said again to them, I go away, and you will seek Maine.
And you will die in your sins.
Or I am going you cannot come.
So the Jews were saying, surely he will not kill himself, will he? Since he says where I'm going, you cannot come.
Now I don't mean to be unkind.
But this shows how dumb these guys are.
Because the multiple the question to ask.
Isn't where you're going.
It's you're dying in your sins.
Because their concept was if you follow the law.
Your gods, and if you don't, you're a Sinner. You're not. And Jesus is saying you guys who quote Unquote follow the law are going to die in your sins.
So to me the argument would be that not worries going. He's going to kill himself and whatever which you would think, since they're trying to kill him, they would be happy with.
They're going to. He's going to take care of himself. He's going to kill himself so we don't have to do it.
Again, all too often people ask.
Or discussed the wrong question.
And he was saying to them.
You are from below and I am from above. You are of this world I am not of this world.
A bumper sticker.
There's a whole company that has T shirts that says not of this world.
And I wish you were more true.
Because all too often we who are believers tend to be no different than the rest of the world. We're so seduced by it that there's little difference between being of this world and not being of this world, but Jesus is.
I'm not from here, I'm from above.
My origins are not. We're not here. My origins were heaven. I'm going back to heaven.
I came because the father sent me.
Therefore.
I say to you that you will die in your sins for unless you believe that I am He.
You will die in your sins. You see Jesus goes right to the point he doesn't talk about where I'm going and whatever he's going. You guys don't have a clue to begin with.
But I came to tell you.
That I came.
Give you life.
That you might be give forgiven of your sins.
But in order to do that, you must believe that Jesus is the son of God.
Otherwise.
You will die in your sins.
Now.
When we try to tell our.
Friends and families.
That Jesus is the only way to Heaven. They believe that we are very narrow minded.
Well.
If I am narrow minded is because Jesus.
My Lord and my savior said there is one way.
And that's through him.
And if he is from above and he is.
And he is the son of God, and he is.
And he came to save me from my sins. And he did.
Then maybe how to listen to him?
It would be the same thing as if I was Lossed.
And the highway and I broke down as the typical man who does never ask for directions and pulled over and ask somebody for directions.
And he actually has something that says that he lives where it is. And he says if you go this way and you go 3 blocks and you turn right.
You go one block in turn left and he gives me really good directions.
Now I say thank you, then I had in the opposite direction you would think I was stupid.
Because I ask for directions to get to where it is I want to go and then didn't follow the directions.
Jesus says you want to get to Heaven. You gotta problem. The problem is, since.
I'm talking to religious establishment, no matter how religious you are, you ain't going to heaven.
No matter how much you think you follow the law, you ain't going to heaven because one violation of the law means you violated at all.
So Jesus says.
I am and he will say it later. I am the way I am the truth. I am the life.
He's giving us directions.
So to say that I'm narrow minded because I'm following the directions of the son of God who gave me directions to heaven means I'm just being right.
I've shared this.
Before and I will share it again. I was in law school.
And I was bored. I tend to be a loner, although I did have a few friends that would hang around and whatever. And there's one fellow law student.
And, uh.
He said, Joe, you're you're such a reasonable person. I took that as a compliment and he goes, except when it comes to this.
Jesus is the only way thing in English. Then you're just.
No longer reasonable.
And my response was.
If I decide.
To call this black and you and I agreed that this is black.
Now we can call a blue. We could call a green we we could call it any color you want, but once we come to the conclusion that that's the color black to me, it's no longer unreasonable to call it black. It's being accurate.
And if Jesus is the only way to the father, if he's the only way to the truth to the life.
That is simply being accurate, not unreasonable.
I didn't set the rules.
If I set the rules and I died for you, they would be a whole lot different than Jesus is.
I'd probably make you for shipping it down to 405 freeway at rush hour.
Now.
So for the people I really liked and I'd give you a special dispensation.
And some of you that I did like I said I only got to do it at rush hour. You gotta do it in front of a semi.
But I don't make the rules.
He did.
And us.
Never I say to you that you will die in your sins for unless you believe that I am He.
You will die in your sins.
So they were saying to him, who are you?
They're just confirming what is it? You don't know who I am, as if you knew who I am, you know who the father was. If you who the father was, you know who I am.
And Jesus said to them.
What have I been saying to you from the beginning, not just from the beginning of this conversation, but from the beginning of my ministry? What have I been saying?
I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but he who sent me is true and the things which I heard from him. These I speak to the world.
Listen.
You're having a problem with the initial teaching. The simple initial teaching is I am.
That I am.
And then I am sent me to you.
If you can't get over that, how can I teach you other things?
But what I do speak in what I do preach, I do, because it's the father that tells me to do so.
They did not realize that he had been speaking to them about the father.
So Jesus said when you lift up the son of man.
Then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative. But I speak these things as the father taught me.
And he who sent Maine is with Maine and has not left me alone, or I always do the things that are pleasing to him.
Now we claim to be believers. We claim to be Christians, which means little Christ.
The notice Jesus I always do, but please is the father.
How often do we decide to do things that please the father as opposed to pleasing us?
Jesus does what he does to please the father, and that means even to the point of death on the cross.
As even in his Prairie goes, let this Cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours.
And when you think.
As we do about how difficult, sometimes it is to be a believer in this world.
And we wonder about. Well, it isn't fair.
This isn't right.
Why do they treat us this way?
We should think about Jesus.
What did you get out of going?
To the cross.
You and Main.
Wasn't worth it.
He went to the cross.
'cause it pleased the father.
For God so love the world that he sent Jesus.
That we might have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus didn't go through the cross to benefit himself.
He did it because that's what the father wanted of him and that benefit.
Is us?
That Grace applied to us.
As he spoke these things.
Many came to believe in him.
Is he Jesus is still have even when there is opposition Jesus is having?
Converse.
And sometimes.
Often times.
The greatest way to conversion is opposition.
Some of the countries that oppose Christianity in both seems to have the most revival happening because there is opposition and you have to be willing to place it all on the line for him.
For us, we can serve him today. We can serve tomorrow. We can wait till next week 'cause we have great freedom.
But Jesus always did what plays the father.
But the first step.
For us to believe the father.
To believe that Jesus is the I am the son of God.
The light of the world.
The bread of life, the way, the truth, The Life.
That, it is, he who allows us to have a relationship with the father is not our ability to follow the law is not our ability to even follow our conscience, but it is the fact that we come to faith acknowledging.
It is he who overcomes the world.
We believe.
And you, as the scripture says, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God. We can't even boast of our faith.
As it is the father through the sun that is given it to us.
And if he's done so.
Then we should live our lives.
As believers.
Then we should forsake the teaching of the world that if you're just a good little boy, little girl, little girl, God will be impressed.
Instead of the truth that it is relationship.
With the father.
Through the sun.
Who draws us by his Holy Spirit?
We believe.
Because he is the son of God.
We believe because we believe his testimony, we believe because we believe the father's testimony. We believe because we believe the spirits testimony. We believe because the scriptures testify of him. We believe because his works testify of him and we believe because the resurrection.
Proves at all.
We believe.
And all God's People said.