The Powerless I AM

a sermon I'm working on

I’m working on a Lenten Sermon Series for Concordia Pulpit Resources. I’m passed the deadline, so I’m trying to give it some attention. Which means, among other things, that I didn’t get the ol’ Wednesday What-Not sent out this week.

Sorry. But, I hope this sermon will encourage you.

Anthony van Dyck: The Betrayal of Christ (van Dyck, Bristol)

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+INJ+

I. The Passion begins and ends in a garden, different gardens. Tomorrow night Jesus will be brought to a garden on the other side of Jerusalem with a new tomb, but now they are in the Garden of Gethsemane, an olive grove on the west-facing slope of the Mount of Olives.)

Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet. He has instituted the Supper, and fed them His body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins. He’s prayed for them, and warned them of all the things about to happen. When all this is finished, the disciples left the Upper Room, travelled east out of Jerusalem, down through the Kidron Valley, and into the garden. Jesus asks the disciples to pray with Him, but they sleep while His agony begins. “Father, if possible, let this cup pass from Me. But not My will. Your will be done.” Three times He prays with sweat like great drops of blood.

The Father’s answer is clear: there is not other way. Jesus will drink this cup of suffering, this cup of God’s anger over sin. The angels comfort Him. He rises from prayer, and goes to find the eleven disciples.

Judas, who had left earlier, and had arranged the betrayal, now comes to the place with a band of soldiers and officials from the Sanhedrin. He indicates the to the soldiers the man to arrest by greeting Him with a kiss, and then Jesus addresses these soldiers. We’ll pay particular attention to this conversation.

II. It has often noticed that John gives us seven examples of “I Am” statements from Jesus. “I am the bread of life” (6:35), “I am the light of the world” (8:12), “I am the door” (10:7), “I am the good shepherd” (10:11, 14), ““I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25), “I am the way the truth and the life” (14:6) and “I am the true vine” (15:1). These are key to understanding the Gospel, and understanding who Jesus is and what He has come to do. Very importantly, they remind us of the conversation Moses had with the Lord in the burning bush. “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is the Lord, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.

What’s sometimes missed is that there are a number of other times in the Gospel of John where Jesus says, “I AM.” Not “I am the door,” or “the way,” simply, “I AM.” This is often hidden in our English translation, who will translate it, “I am He,” to make it make more sense. But this misses the significance. Jesus is claiming to be God.

“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).

“Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I AM” (John 13:19).

III. Here in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is about to say this again, twice. And two very different things happen. This is amazing.

The soldiers come to Jesus. “Whom do you seek?” Jesus asks. “Jesus of Nazareth,” they declare. Jesus says (ready for it?): “I AM.”

With that word Jesus reveals the truth of who He is, and demonstrates the power of His divine majesty. That word knocks them over. At that word all the soldiers “drew back and fell to the ground.” It’s like they are hit by a tornado, lanterns drop, swords and spears fly, men falling all over each other in cloud of dust. This is a miracle, a wonder, a sign. One little word, and they are like bowling pins.

But they are not destroyed. They stand up, dust themselves off, pick up their spears, a little dazed they look at Jesus, who again asks them, “Whom do you seek?” You have to imagine that they are a little more tentative this time. They look at each other, no one wants to say it. They grit their teeth and grasp their sword and plant their feet, “Jesus of Nazareth.” And Jesus says it again, “I told you, I AM.” And nothing happens. No one falls over. No one ever teeters.

• The first I AM sent them flying. The second I AM don’t move them at all.

• The first I AM shows that Jesus is God in the flesh. The second I AM shows that Jesus is not using His power to protect and serve Himself.

• The first I AM demonstrates that Jesus could avoid the cross. The second I AM shows that He won’t, that He is willingly and quietly led like a sheep to be slaughtered.

• The first I AM is a miracle of God’s power. The second I AM is the miracle of God’s weakness, and this is the greater miracle, and the greater wonder, and the greater gift.

The Creator of the universe, the One who spoke, and the sun and moon and stars jumped to their place is here in the garden. The One who spoke and all that existed came to be is about to be arrested. This One speaks, and the band of soldiers is repelled and knocked over, and He is safe. This is no surprise. But then, this One speaks again, and nothing happens. The soldiers are still standing.

They approach Jesus. Nothing happens.

They touch Him. Nothing happens.

They grab Him and bind Him. Nothing happens. They lead Him away to Annas, to Caiaphas. They strike Him in the face, spit on Him, pull out His beard, strip Him, whip Him, drag Him to Golgotha. Nothing happens. They crucify Him, and there is no resistance, no fighting back, no knocking them over with a word, it is all weakness and suffering. And this is all for you.

Behold this miracle of weakness! Behold this wonder of humility! Behold the suffering of God for sinners, for you!

This, after all, is why Jesus came, why God took up our flesh and blood, so there is a back to whip and a brow to crown and hands and feet for the nails and blood to spill, to carry our sin and sorrow, and be the King of our salvation.

So, dear saints, who do you seek tonight?

Jesus of Nazareth, we ask, are you the Savior? He says to you, I AM.
Jesus, are You a Friend of Sinners? I AM.
Jesus, are You our Light and Hope? I AM.
Jesus, are You for me? I AM.

In that promise, we stand.
Amen.

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Lord's Blessings, Pastor Wolfmueller

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

www.wolfmueller.co

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