Thursday, March 26, 2015

Day 40: I AM

Read John 7-8
"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 8:55-59
Do you know God? Do you know his character, his virtues? Do you know his joys and his grief? His will and his might? The entire human existence is an endeavor to know God. Whether it is in silent idols, irreverent nature, unlasting others, or condemning self, we seek satisfaction, security, and validation in something. Do you know God?

How can we know God? How do we come to know anyone? We can study their behavior or research their history, but the most certain way you can know someone is by their WORD. What they proclaim themselves to be! We communicate ourselves through our words: our loves and hates, our joys and sorrows, our fears and strengths. The Israelites knew God because they knew his word. God declared who he was though his word, and the Israelites were the keepers of those words (Romans 3:1-2). They studied them, they worshipped with them. They knew, memorized, prayed and sang them. The Israelites knew God. But somewhere along the way God’s word -and in effect his character- was twisted and perverted into a false image of God, that ended up looking like them.

This is where most of us find ourselves today. We have been raised within the walls of the church and know OF him, like we know of celebrities or historical figures. But we have neglected to know him more intimately, settling for our distance. Isn’t that devastatingly foolish? That we have neglected the God of the universe? We consciously deprive ourselves of the thing we need most- yes, the very thing we were made for: God! "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

Enter: Jesus the Christ, the God-man, the perfect, spotless lamb of God. In verse 55 Jesus makes a radical claim and says that he “knows God and keeps his word.” How was this possible? Earlier in this gospel John delivers a beautiful introduction into his book by saying “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He goes on to reveal that Jesus is the living word of God! This is the gospel! Why is this such Good News? Because no longer is God’s character limited to laws carved upon stone tablets, or words written on parchment, but He is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. If God reveals himself through his word, and Jesus Christ is the word of God, then Jesus Christ is the perfect reflection -in flesh- of God and his fullness. Since the beginning of creation Satan has been trying to pervert the word of God (Genesis 3:1). Indeed the first question he asks Eve is, “Did God really say…?” But where Satan perverts, Jesus restores. His life could not be perverted or twisted. He was perfect and righteous. How do you know God? Come to know Jesus.

Do you know Jesus? The disciples knew him and they followed him. The Jews knew him and they crucified him. One day all of creation will know him and they will worship him. This is why they picked up stones to throw at Jesus: Because he claimed to be YAWEH (I AM), the rightful name of God. But while the Jews took offense to it, we take refuge in it. Jesus is calling to you right now. What’s remarkable is that when we are without pursuit, Jesus is relentless. He is always chasing you - GOD is chasing you. He is jealous for you, and he wants you to know him and be fully known by him.

Jesus is Lord, and he has made the Father known, Amen.


- Arun Abraham

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