April 20

From Pastor Gary...
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am.” (John 8: 58)

Jesus is being challenged by the Pharisees. They question his authority and his teachings. The Pharisees claim their own authority as children of Abraham. Jesus responds saying if they were children of Abraham, they would have the faith of Abraham, and thus would love him and believe his word. Jesus then said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Pharisees reject these words saying, “Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself to be?” Jesus then said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” With this statement, He answered their questions. Are you greater than Abraham and all the prophets? The answer is yes. Who do you claim to be? The answer is God.

When he referred to Himself as “I Am”, Jesus proclaimed his eternal existence. When Moses asked by what name He should be called, God replied, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). In a later conversation, Jesus quite plainly stated, “I and the Father are one” (John 10: 30). We express this truth in the Nicene creed when we confess Jesus as “The only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.”

​This is necessary for our salvation. Man had to pay the price for man’s sin. But only Jesus, true man yet true God, could pay the price for all the sin of mankind. Jesus Christ, who had no earthly father, was conceived and born without sin. As such, He kept the Law for us. Therefore, He could offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sin.
Jesus Christ is the great “I AM”. This week we will consider Jesus “I Am” statements.

​Verse for today:
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)