I have been told I’m a bit crazy since I was a student in elementary school.  Most times, I hung back in conversations.  Some will not believe this, but growing up I was told I was shy. But, in truth it was a way to watch and observe how the other kids reacted to life. People watching was and is fascinating, especially when they live and respond to life in ways different than you would.  As I fifth grader, I remember wondering why the self named “cool kids” would praise some kids they deemed okay to like but mock others for unknown reasons to me.  There was even a written list!  Somehow, I was deemed a friend to all, flying “under the radar” of attention which confused the whole system. 

Later in life, employed in retail, to work my way through college, I discovered that a lot of people still thought like we did in grade school.  On any given shift of gathered people, there were some who were “cool” and some who were not.  I couldn’t figure out why as a people watcher and observer.  I took a college class, Sociology (the study of people), which explained most human behaviors which was helpful.  But Sociology is only research of selected people groups of the past. Phycology (behaviors of people) didn’t satisfy my wondering either of why people don’t progress beyond elementary behaviors of choosing who they will like and don’t like, based merely on assumptions and presumptions that form their opinions. 

Why can’t we all get along?  Why do we assume who a person is without getting to know them?

I am a “church kid.”  That was my “tag” through out my school years.  I can only surmise that my lifestyle was obvious.  I didn’t know cuss words, didn’t go to parties that I knew from the talk of kids would make me uncomfortable, or choose some kids to like and others to mock; but they accepted me.  They thought I was a bit crazy, but if any of them had a problem or just needed to talk, they would come to me knowing I would listen and keep it to myself. Apparently, I was trusted.  They knew who I was inside without banging them over the head with my Bible.  I learned, early in life, that Jesus who promised to be with me through it all, was indeed the One in which to rely and depend upon.  God’s Holy Spirit steered me through the rough waters of growing up.  He forgave my sins and mistakes in judgement and never let me go and never gave up on me.  God extended His mercy to me as He pulled me back into His grace because of his unfailing, relentless love.  I am so grateful for knowing Him and I am convinced He is who He says He is.

I love that Jesus is also an observer of people. However, Jesus has much greater observational skills than we will ever have!  Jesus is “God in flesh who moved into the neighborhood of humanity”. (John 1:14) Jesus was with God at Creation.  Jesus knows how God works.  Because He and the Father are one, Jesus knows what people are thinking.  Jesus can see beyond the pretense in their eyes to reveal what is truly in their hearts.  He knows who believes Him as the Son of God; Messiah come to save them. Jesus also knows who refuses to listen, believe, or follow because they are led by the Enemy of confusion, pride, greed, and all that is not of God.

Those who refuse Jesus, call Him crazy.  Anyone who is does not talk and walk like a devout Jewish leader must be crazy!  Or so they think…

John 8, The Message

I Am Who I Am

⁴⁸ The Jews then said, “That settles it. We were right all along when we called you a Samaritan and said you were crazy—demon-possessed!”

^49-51 Jesus said, “I’m not crazy. I simply honor my Father, while you dishonor me. I am not trying to get anything for myself. God intends something gloriously grand here and is making the decisions that will bring it about. I say this with absolute confidence. If you practice what I’m telling you, you’ll never have to look death in the face.”

^52-53 At this point the Jews said, “Now we know you’re crazy. Abraham died. The prophets died. And you show up saying, ‘If you practice what I’m telling you, you’ll never have to face death, not even a taste.’ Are you greater than Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you think you are!”

^54-56 Jesus said, “If I were striving to get all the attention, it wouldn’t amount to anything. But my Father, the same One you say is your Father, put me here at this time and place of splendor. You haven’t recognized him in this. But I have. If I, in false modesty, said I didn’t know what was going on, I would be as much of a liar as you are. But I do know, and I am doing what he says. Abraham—your ‘father’—with elated faith looked down the corridors of history and saw my day coming. He saw it and cheered.”

⁵⁷ The Jews said, “You’re not even fifty years old—and Abraham saw you?”

⁵⁸ “Believe me,” said Jesus, “I am who I am long before Abraham was anything.”

⁵⁹ That did it—pushed them over the edge. They picked up rocks to throw at him. But Jesus slipped away, getting out of the Temple.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Sometimes I wonder why Jesus wasted His time and energy on those who deemed Him crazy.  But then I remember the unfailing love and compassion of God whose desire is that “no one perish” but have eternal life. Peter reminds us of this Truth in his letters to believers: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

I’m so glad God was patient with me!  Aren’t you?

The Jewish leaders were so engulfed in The Law that could not see The Law being fulfilled in Jesus, Son of God.  They clung to only what was written.  Jesus is extending their thinking with “crazy talk” because what He is saying goes beyond the smallness of human minds, stuck in gear, to the greatest of God whose desire is for greater things in and through His people! 

BEYOND CRAZY!

We humans still attack what we cannot understand and do not know.  The leaders could not refute Jesus’ statements, so they attacked His person. The personal attacks in verse 48 are quite obvious. For a Jew to be called a Samaritan was the grossest of insults in that culture, and then to be called demon-possessed only added further insult.

The most difficult people to win to the Savior are those who do not realize that they have a need. They are under the condemnation of God, yet they trust their religion to save them. They are walking in the darkness and not following the light of life. They are sharing a “living death” because of their bondage to sin, and, in spite of their religious deeds, they are dishonoring the Father and the Son. These are the people who crucified Jesus Christ, and Jesus called them the children of the devil.

The worst bondage is the kind that the prisoner himself does not recognize. He thinks he is free, yet he is really a slave. The Pharisees and other religious leaders thought that they were free, but they were actually enslaved in terrible spiritual bondage to sin and Satan. They would not face the truth, and yet it was the truth alone that could set them free.

Jesus’ statement can also be translated, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Again, this was another affirmation of His divine sonship, and the Jewish leaders received it as such. He had once again made Himself equal with God (John 5:18), and this was the sin of blasphemy, worthy of death (Leviticus 24:16). Jesus was divinely protected and simply walked away. His hour had not yet come. We cannot help but admire His courage as He presented the truth and invited blind religious men to trust Him and be set free.

Who is I AM?  We give credit to the gospel of John for recording the seven I AM statements of Jesus “so that we would believe” Jesus as the Son of God with certainty and confidence:  

• I Am The Bread Of Life (John 6:35)
• I Am The Light Of The World (John 8:12)
• I Am The Gate For The Sheep (John 10:7)
• I Am The Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
• I Am The Resurrection And The Life (John 11:25)
• I Am The Way The Truth And The Life (John 14:6)
• I Am The True Vine (John 15:1)

Believe, be set free forever!

Lord,

Thank you for willingly laying down your life for ours but not before you spent three years clarifying Who you are with Why you came.  You are Light that shines through piercing the dark days of our lives.  You are the provider of all we need even before we know we need it. You are our ever-present help and protector.  You lead us to what is best for us.  Most of all, Jesus, you reconciled us to God.  Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, Holy Spirit for always being with us.  I’m yours.

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

Praise the Father, Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, Three in One
Clothed in power and in grace
The name above all other names

(By Chris Tomlin)