From the Pastor’s Desk:
The “I AM”
It’s one of the most iconic scenes in the Bible: A scruffy shepherd (you can picture him with Charlton Heston’s face if you like) standing barefoot in front of a bush that burns but isn’t consumed, getting his marching orders.
Moses stutters and stalls. He makes every excuse. He’s not a leader. He’s not a speaker. He won’t be believed. Somebody else should go. He’s not the one to lead the people out of Egypt.
Finally, Moses says, “What if they ask who sent me? What is your name?”
And the amazing, ever-burning, never disappearing, talking bush thunders back: “I AM WHO I AM. Tell the Israelites ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ (Ex. 3:14)
I AM. That’s God’s chosen name for Himself. He is the God who “is.”
All through eternity, God is. If you could build a time machine and travel back to before Creation and talk to God, He would tell you: “I AM.” If you took your time machine into the future, after this world is gone, you would find God and He would tell you: “I AM.” And, of course, right now, in this very moment, God still is. He is “I AM”
He is is. He is was. He is will be. This is the essence of God. He always is. He is I AM.
Now fast-forward several thousand years. Jesus is in the courtyards of the Jewish temple and—as is so often the case—He is engaged in a debate with the Jewish Religious Authorities. They just don’t get Jesus. They think He’s a troublemaker, possibly demon-possessed. They don’t understand how He dares to say the things He does. They ask, “Who do you think you are?” (John 8:53)
And then Jesus drops the bombshell. He makes the clearest, most outrageous claim He’s made about Himself thus far. In John 8:58 Jesus stakes His claim to being the eternal, ever-present God of the universe:
58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
Before Abraham was born, I AM. It sounds weird in English. It sounds weird in the original language too. It’s not good grammar.
But make no mistake, Jesus is choosing His words very carefully here. He knows the Name God gave to Moses, and now He’s claiming it for Himself. He is I AM. He is God.
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Every once in a while you’ll hear somebody say that Jesus never claimed to be God. He said He was God’s Son. He said He was the Messiah. But He never claimed to be God Himself. These people say that Jesus thought of Himself as important, but never wanted to be worshipped as God. They say that His followers added that later.
But right here you can see what Jesus thought of Himself. He used the Divine name. The name that was so sacred the Jews would not say it in Hebrew for fear of belittling God. He was claiming to be the One who always is. The One who was, who is now, and forever will be.
Here’s an illustration: A kindergarten teacher told everyone to draw a picture of what was important to them. In the back of the room a young man named Johnny began to labor over his drawing.
Everybody else finished and handed in their picture but he didn't. He was still drawing. The teacher graciously walked back and put her arm around Johnny's shoulder and said, "Johnny, what are you drawing?" He didn't look up; he just kept on working feverishly at his picture. He said, "God." "But Johnny," she said gently, "no one knows what God looks like." He answered, "They will when I'm through!"
We think that it is impossible to see God. That no one knows what God looks like. But Jesus is telling us here that if we’ve seen Him, we’ve seen God. That if we know Him, we know God.
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This month we celebrate 250 years of America. We celebrate our freedom as Americans.
Well, in the same chapter, Jesus says this: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Here is true freedom: knowing that Jesus is the great “I AM.” More than a Bill of Rights or political liberty, true freedom is found in Jesus Christ. Recognizing Him as the one who was, who is, and is to come. Bowing your knee to Him and living as His disciple.
July Birthdays
7 Vada Shreve
9 Eden Wix
10 Joyce Meyer
11 Bridget Meyer, Oakley Quario
18 Gabriel Kramer
20 Stephanie Quario
21 Judy Koenen, Kathy Smith
27 Marie Senne
29 Sandy Cooper
July Anniversaries
5 Gary & Denise Abbas, Stan & Marie Senne
19 Larry & Darlene Slocum
29 David & Kelly Thorne
Greeting & Refreshments for Fellowship Time
July 5 – Daniel & Lee Shafer, Brent & Dawn Janssen
July 12 - Troy & Kristol Ulrich, Colton & Ellah Schell
July 19 – Pastor Russell & Beth, Arlin & Greta Eberline
July 26 - Gary & Denise Abbas, Darrell Folkerts
July Sound/Projector Operator Schedule
July 5 - Tim Junker
July 12– Ryan Fleshner
July 19 - Matt Eberline
July 26 - Ryan Fleshner
Video Operator Schedule
July 5 - James Seehusen
July 12 - Michael Shafer
July 19 - Lucas Junker
July 26 - Jodi Bangasser
July Praise Team Schedule
July 5 - Praise Team 1 (Denise)
July 12 - Praise Team 2 (Kelly)
July 19 - Praise Team 3 (Kelly/Greta)
July 26 - Praise Team 4 (Denise)