The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Judica (18 March, 2018)

This is the God you're looking for

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."  So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.  Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you."  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.  And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"  Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.  When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."  He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."  And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.  So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."  Genesis 22:1-14

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!  Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.  Psalm 43

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.  For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.  Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.  Hebrews 9:11-15

(Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but He sent me.  Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.)  Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?  Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."  The Jews answered Him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"  Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.  Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge.  Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."  The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"  Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'  But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."  So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"  Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."  So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.  John 8:(42-45) 46-59

"Jesus never claimed to be God."

That's the accusation people make today.  But in His day, the people were claiming that Jesus had a demon, or was simply some extravagant liar.

Until He said the last thing they wanted to hear.  "I AM."  Christ had made many "I am" statements, but there was no misunderstanding the meaning of this one.

Ever since the Devil questioned God's instructions to Adam and Eve, humans have questioned God.  Is He real?  Does He love me?  Is He all powerful?  Did He really create everything?  Why doesn't He stop evil?  And so on.

The Jewish religious leaders constantly questioned Jesus.  Not to find the answer, but in an attempt to undermine His authority.  It didn't take them long to figure out that He was someone extremely important.  But they didn't want Him to be the Messiah.  So they questioned.  Finally He dropped the mic.

"I AM."

In Greek, the phrase is two words, both verbs that translate in English to "I am."  Such a redundant statement is unnecessary.  Unless it is meant as a stand-in for the Hebrew word YHWH.

In Exodus 3:14 God tells Moses the name he is to use to speak to the Hebrews.  "I AM."  When Jesus tells the Jews "before Abraham was, I AM," they weren't mad at Him for poor grammar.  They were ready to stone Him because He claimed to be God.

Not a majestic conquering monarch, born and raised in a palace, set to ride in and dispense with the pagan overlords.  But a meek worker and teacher, born and raised as a commoner, set to be lead to His death in our place.

The I AM who was born to die, and rise again.