I AM the I AM ‘I AM’-series on the claims of Jesus John 8:30-59 Teacher: Ed van Ouwerkerk

What was the first claim of Jesus, we talked about What was the first claim of Jesus, we talked about? And what did you learn? I AM the Bread of Life What was the second claim of Jesus, we talked about? And what did you learn? I AM the Light of the World

Historical context of the third claim 1300 BC Exodus 3:13-14 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 出 埃 及 記 3:13-14 摩 西 对 　 神 说 ： 我 到 以 色 列 人 那 里 ， 对 他 们 说 ： 你 们 祖 宗 的 　 神 打 发 我 到 你 们 这 里 来 。 他 们 若 问 我 说 ： 他 叫 甚 麽 名 字 ？ 我 要 对 他 们 说 甚 麽 呢 ？ 神 对 摩 西 说 ： 我 是 自 有 永 有 的 ； 又 说 ： 你 要 对 以 色 列 人 这 样 说 ： 那 自 有 的 打 发 我 到 你 们 这 里 来 。

700 BC Isaiah prophesies about Jesus in Isaiah 43:10-11 10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. 10 耶 和 华 说 ： 你 们 是 我 的 见 证 ， 我 所 拣 选 的 仆 人 。 既 是 这 样 ， 便 可 以 知 道 ， 且 信 服 我 ， 又 明 白 我 就 是 耶 和 华 。 在 我 以 前 没 有 真 神 （ 真 ： 原 文 是 造 作 的 ） ； 在 我 以 後 也 必 没 有 。11 惟 有 我 是 耶 和 华 ； 除 我 以 外 没 有 救 主 。

The apostle John confirms that God and Jesus were One and the same in John 1:1-4,14 which supports Jesus’ claim that He is also the I AM. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. . . . 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1 太 初 有 道 ， 道 与 神 同 在 ， 道 就 是 神 。 2 这 道 太 初 与 神 同 在 。 3 万 物 是 藉 着 他 造 的 ； 凡 被 造 的 ， 没 有 一 样 不 是 藉 着 他 造 的 。4 生 命 在 他 里 头 ， 这 生 命 就 是 人 的 光 。. . . . 14 道 成 了 肉 身 ， 住 在 我 们 中 间 ， 充 充 满 满 的 有 恩 典 有 真 理 。 我 们 也 见 过 他 的 荣 光 ， 正 是 父 独 生 子 的 荣 光 。

The discussion in John 8:31-59 took place immediately after Jesus claimed to be the light of the world. Jesus continued to talk with some people who said that they believed in Him. The question of who Jesus was remained on the minds of those present, and Jesus wanted to further explain who He really was and what it meant to follow Him. Definition of terms Illegitimate: (vs 41) I child born outside wedlock/marriage Samaritans: (vs 48) Descendants of Jewish people who intermarried with non-Jews of Palestine and surrounding areas. The Jews valued racial purity and, therefore, hated the Samaritans, who were not welcome in Jewish communities in Galilee and Judea. Demon: (vs 48) A servant of the Devil filled with evil, hatred, and opposition to God; also called an evil spirit. Sometimes, a demon can “possess” a person, entering the person’s soul and controlling his or her thoughts and actions (Mark 5:1-17; Luke 9:37-43). Glory: (vss 50, 54) Greatness, high position, or honor Glorify: (vs 54) To give honor, praise, or admiration to a person

John 8:48-59  48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”   49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 I tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death.”  52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”   約 翰 福 音 8:48-59  48 犹 太 人 回 答 说 ： 我 们 说 你 是 撒 玛 利 亚 人 ， 并 且 是 鬼 附 着 的 ， 这 话 岂 不 正 对 麽 ？  49 耶 稣 说 ： 我 不 是 鬼 附 着 的 ； 我 尊 敬 我 的 父 ，你 们 倒 轻 慢 我 。50 我 不 求 自 己 的 荣 耀 ，有 一 位 为 我 求 荣 耀 、 定 是 非 的 。51 我 实 实 在 在 的 告 诉 你 们 ， 人 若 遵 守 我 的 道 ， 就 永 远 不 见 死 。 52 犹 太 人 对 他 说 ： 现 在 我 们 知 道 你 是 鬼 附 着 的 。 亚 伯 拉 罕 死 了 ， 众 先 知 也 死 了 ， 你 还 说 ： 人 若 遵 守 我 的 道 ， 就 永 远 不 尝 死 味 。53 难 道 你 比 我 们 的 祖 宗 亚 伯 拉 罕 还 大 麽 ？ 他 死 了 ， 众 先 知 也 死 了 ， 你 将 自 己 当 作 甚 麽 人 呢 ？

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. 54 耶 稣 回 答 说 ： 我 若 荣 耀 自 己 ， 我 的 荣 耀 就 算 不 得 甚 麽 ； 荣 耀 我 的 乃 是 我 的 父 ，就 是 你 们 所 说 是 你 们 的 神。 55 你 们 未 曾 认 识 他 ； 我 却 认 识 他。 我 若 说 不 认 识 他 ， 我 就 是 说 谎 的，像 你 们 一 样 ； 但 我 认 识 他 ， 也 遵 守 他 的 道 。 56 你 们 的 祖 宗 亚 伯 拉 罕 欢 欢 喜 喜 的 仰 望 我 的 日 子 ， 既 看 见 了 就 快 乐 。 57 犹 太 人 说 ： 你 还 没 有 五 十 岁 ， 岂 见 过 亚 伯 拉 罕 呢 ？ 58 耶 稣 说 ： 我 实 实 在 在 的 告 诉 你 们 ， 还 没 有 亚 伯 拉 罕 就 有 了 我 。 59 於 是 他 们 拿 石 头 要 打 他 ； 耶 稣 却 躲 藏 ， 从 殿 去 了 。

Observation questions in John 8:31-59 1. According to Jesus, what is a true disciple? Vs. 31: One who follows Jesus’ teaching, who believes what Jesus said about Himself and His Father, and obeys His commands. 2. According to this passage, what is the result of following Jesus’ teachings? Vs. 32: A person who follows Jesus’ teachings will know the truth in a personal way and will find the spiritual freedom in Christ. 3. What promise does Jesus make to those who keep and obey His words? Vs. 51: They will never die (a spiritual death) 4. Did the Jews understand this type of death? Vss. 52,53. 5. What bold statement did Jesus make about Himself in relation to Abraham? Vs. 58: Before Abraham was born, Jesus already existed.

6. Read Philippians 2: 5-11. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 5 你 们 当 以 基 督 耶 稣 的 心 为 心 ：6 他 本 有 神 的 形 像 ， 不 以 自 己 与 神 同 等 为 强 夺 的 ；7 反 倒 虚 己 ， 取 了 奴 仆 的 形 像 ， 成 为 人 的 样 式 ；8 既 有 人 的 样 子 ， 就 自 己 卑 微 ， 存 心 顺 服 ， 以 至 於 死 ， 且 死 在 十 字 架 上 。9 所 以 ， 神 将 他 升 为 至 高 ， 又 赐 给 他 那 超 乎 万 名 之 上 的 名 ，10 叫 一 切 在 天 上 的 、 地 上 的 ， 和 地 底 下 的 ， 因 耶 稣 的 名 无 不 屈 膝 ，11 无 不 口 称 耶 稣 基 督 为 主 ， 使 荣 耀 归 与 父 神 。 Does that passage explain that Jesus is God?

Analysis and discussion questions on John 8:31-59 7. What does it mean to be a slave to sin? A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. Being unable to resist its power in your life. When you give in to sin (even though you know it is wrong), you are a slave to it (Romans 6). 8. What would Jesus say about those who say they follow Him and yet continue to live sinful lives? He would say that they are not truly His followers. A person who continues a lifestyle of sin should question his or her relationship with Jesus Christ. 9. Did Jesus’ listeners understand what Jesus was claiming about Himself? Relate your answer to the way they responded to Him. Yes, Jesus’ listeners understood that Jesus was claiming to be God. They thought He was blaspheming, that’s why they tried to stone Him. Leviticus 16. 10. What does it mean for the Father to glorify the Son? Vs. 54: It means that Jesus’ didn’t glorify Himself. The Father honored Him: by a voice from heaven, at his baptism and other events, declaring him to be his beloved Son, and by the works and miracles he did by him; as he afterwards also honored him by raising him from the dead.

11. What do you think Jesus meant when He said “if a man keeps my word, he will never see death”? Vs. 51 12. Has Jesus been the only one in history to claim to be God? Are there people today who make this claim? Others have claimed to be divine, Korean Sun Myung Moon, Indian Guru Maharashi, etc. Read Mark 13:5-6 5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 5 耶 稣 说 ： 你 们 要 谨 慎 ， 免 得 有 人 迷 惑 你 们 。6 将 来 有 好 些 人 冒 我 的 名 来 ， 说 ： 我 是 基 督 ， 并 且 要 迷 惑 许 多 人 。 Discuss Jesus’ statement about others who make this claim.