Peachtree City Christian Church's Podcast

Mark 14:61-65 “But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I AM,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned Him as worthy of death.Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took Him and beat Him.”

He is the:  

I AM the Bread of Life.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life.

I AM the Light of the World.

Before Abraham was born I AM!

I AM the Gate.

I AM the Way.

It is vital that we understand and accept that He is the Living Word.

John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Two vital questions that must be dealt with:

1. “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Because this changes everything for the world.

1.   “What do you think?”

Because this changes everything for you.

What is Jesus telling us?

1. Salvation

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

2. Life

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” – Psalm 23:4-5

3. Purpose

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

“As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.” – Luke 6:47

John 8:58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Here is the truth that Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father wants us to know:

1. Jesus alone brings us into fellowship with the Father- John 17:21, Hebrews 1:3

2. Everything that matters exists through Jesus- John 1:3

3. Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection are the Keys – Isaiah 53

4. Jesus is the Head of the Church- Matt 16:18

Supremacy – πρωτεύω (prōteuō) To be first, to hold the first rank or highest dignity, have the preeminence, be chief.

The Church in the U.S. struggles because many are seeking a Savior instead of surrendering to their King. WE should be surrendering to the King who is able and willing to save us!

John 11:25  “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

So Why did Jesus Weep?

John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”

Consider this: Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus. Is it because He knows that even though He will be raised that they are all going to have to go through this again?

Perhaps it is because Jesus knows that there are people there and throughout history that will not understand why He came?
Perhaps it is because they don’t understand the difference between existing and living.

It’s vital that we understand in our vernacular what Jesus has said:
We have to understand that when Martha heard Jesus say this she was not just hearing the words she was hearing the meaning of the words!

Jesus uses – and the Holy Spirit records – specific words and phrases:

The resurrection: Anastasis – the author of resurrection,
Life: Zoe – life, source of spiritual life,
Believes: Pisteuo – commit to the charge or power of,
Live: Zao – to be alive in a state of salvation from spiritual death.
Die: Apothnesko – to decay, to die the death of final condemnation and misery,

What Martha hears is this:
“I Am the Author of resurrection and the Source of spiritual life; everyone who commits their life to Me will be alive in salvation from spiritual death even though their tent decays they will never die the death of final condemnation and misery.”

Then Jesus asks a very important question- “Will you commit your life to Me?”

Some important truths for us to consider:

1. There are two ways to die – One is the end of one’s physical existence; the other is the end of one’s spirit – Lazarus existence has ceased but his life is still very much present.

Heb.9:27-28 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

2. Jesus came to put an end to the second death– there is a death of final condemnation and misery, yet Jesus is saying, not here, not today! He is saying it to us today

John 11:4 “When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

3. Will you make the commitment to live?– John 11:25 “Do you believe this?”
Will you commit to Jesus way of living?

Believing is not simply thinking or feeling; it is actually committing our lives to Him.

Rev. 2:11 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

Who is Victorious? The one who has committed their life to following Jesus

Matt.6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Are we more concerned about what we might have to give up over what Jesus gives?
To me this is the saddest part of the whole story:

John 11:48 “If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

What is

John 6:26-40

Jesus feeds the 5,000 and waits for the crowd that has gathered due to His miracles.

Interesting question: Why do we always question finances when Jesus asks us to do something?

A boy is asked to share.
Jesus gives thanks.
12 baskets of leftovers: What do you think happened to them? Hint: Jesus says, “so none is wasted.”
Jesus walks on water.
The crowds search for Jesus.

Some important points:

Notice that they are trying to make some type of spiritual connection- they are talking about what God has done [perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it’s close to passover- remember vs.4] Jesus wants to draw their attention to what God is Doing!

Many are searching for Jesus to meet a temporary need vs.26
Jesus is not angry but He does want to clarify that they need a change of focus.
We don’t need to be angry with people who don’t yet understand; we need to offer clarity.

2. Jesus tells them that He is the source of eternal life vs.27
Jesus wants to be sure they understand that there is a real difference between existence and Life!
We need to be sure that we are clear with the message that the hope of life is in Jesus.

3. Jesus tells them not to be occupied with the temporary over the eternal – vs.27-29.
Two words that we translate as work means literally –
Ergazomai – to be occupied with.
Ergon – a process, course of action.

So Jesus is saying, don’t let your existence get in the way of your life.

The Crowd makes a very important request- “Sir, give us this Bread”

John 6: 35, “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will
never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”

bread-artos of-ho life-zōē
Artos – necessary for life
Zoe – spiritual life

Jesus is literally saying that He is the necessary source of spiritual life.

The questions for us to answer:

1. What are we going to do with this truth?

In John 21, Jesus tells Peter “feed My lambs” and “feed My sheep.”
Will we share the Bread of Life with those who are starving to live?
Let us not be known as those in Jude 1:12, These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.

2. How hungry are we for what God gives?
What occupies our minds and hearts? Where are we looking for our nourishment?
John 4:34, “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
– We have to be hungry for what matters!
Matt.5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Psalm 107:9, …for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Psalms 146:7, He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.

3. Will we allow existence to block our view of Life?
There is a powerful difference between existing and Living….. and the only way to truly live is through the Bread of Life – Jesus.
John 3:21, But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 6:63, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”

John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

In Exodus 3 – God is sending Moses to inform the Pharaoh that He is about to free Israel from bondage.

I realize that it is often presented as God is sending Moses to request when in actuality God is simply offering Pharaoh a chance to do the right thing……

So Moses asks God who should I say sent me? (Paraphrased)
God tells Moses say “I AM that I AM.”

I am that I am is a common English translation of the Hebrew phrase אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה, ’ehyeh ’ăšer ’ehyeh – also “I am who am”, “I am what I am” or “I will be what I will be” or even “I create what(ever) I create.”

Look at the text of Exodus 3- God is making a declaration-
I AM the:
Self existent
Eternal
Relational
Already with you
Unchanging
Covenant keeper
Redeemer

I don’t believe it is a coincidence that Jesus employs the phrase- “I Am”

Mark 8:27-29 “Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

Two very important thoughts we should explore:

First: What does the world think about Jesus?
Who do they “say” not what do they know?

I believe Jesus is saying- understand the world doesn’t
know who I Am- that means they don’t understand why He
came …..

Second: Who is Jesus to you?
Will you take a stand for the truth?
Do you know why He came?
Are you willing to embrace that He is:
Self existent
Eternal
Relational
With you
Unchanging
Covenant keeper
Redeemer

John 1:1-5 “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 all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Who is the I AM to you?