Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Lent
[Numbers 21:4-9 and John 8:21-30]When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me......
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007 TUESDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT [Numbers 21:4-9 and John 8:21-30] When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me..... The implications of Jesus' use of the words, "I AM" are very serious. He is identifying himself with the God who spoke in the Burning Bush (Exodus 3). Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus makes what are called "I AM" statements. I AM the bread of life, the vine, the light, the good shepherd, the way, the truth and the life, the Resurrection and the Life. In one significant place he states, "Before Abraham came to be, I AM! This way of speaking is a "line in the sand" to the religious authorities of his day and to other Jews. It identifies Jesus with his Father. We are told directly in the Gospel of John that this is why Jesus was persecuted. The line in the sand is for us too. Jesus cannot be just one prophet or historical charismatic figure among others such as Mohammed or Buddha or Confucius. The divinity of Christ is the foundation of Christianity. Without this foundation, there is only a form of ethical humanism. This coming Sunday, we will celebrate Palm Sunday and the dramatic tension between Jesus and his adversaries will grow as they intensify their efforts to get rid of him. Our modern methods are not so crude. Our society believes it can kill Jesus just by ignoring him or making sure the crucifix disappears from public view outside churches. The challenge for Christians is to "lift him up so that the world can know the meaning of I AM! AMEN
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