JESUS IS – I AM – THE WORD THAT BECAME FLESH

JESUS IS – I AM – THE WORD THAT BECAME FLESH

Sakkie Parsons

Translated from Afrikaans
Translator:  Robin Barker

I want to share something that came to me years ago and what I came across again, let me say in my archives.
First, let us read the following from the Word:

JOHN 6:16-21 
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,
17  where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.
18  A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
19  When they had rowed about three or four miles, [a] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.
20  But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
21  Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

When a person reads this section in John, it seems like John in the beginning does not place as much emphasis on this compared to Mark and Matthew.
John does not mention certain facts that I would thought of as very important.
For example; that Peter walked on water.

You see, a number of people can experience the same event but what is important to you about the event, will stay with you.
When I visit my daughter Alta and the Bulls are playing rugby against the Western Stormers, I must smile sometimes.
When the umpire blows his whistle and gives the Bulls a penalty kick, then the Stormers supporters think that the umpire does not know the rules.
When the umpire blows his whistle and he gives the Stormers a penalty, then the Bulls supporters reckon he has blinkers on.
My wife thinks that the Crusaders is are a wonderful team but when they play against the Bulls I will hear that they are ‘dirty’ players.

For John, it seems to me, when I look at his account, there was something more important than, for example, Peter walking on water.
Come let me show you what I mean:
We read that they climbed into the boat and depart and then they were engulfed in a terrible storm.
Picture that in your mind.
Surrounding them are these terrible storm winds and around and sometimes over them are these terribly high waves.
Then, as they say:
“To top it all”
According to Matthew and Mark what they thought was a ghost appeared to them from the dark night and high waves.
Daily they walked with Jesus, ate and slept but they were so blinded by their current situation that they did not recognize their Lord and their Redeemer.
Then Jesus says:
“It is I.”

JOHN 6:20  But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Then according to John the problem was completely resolved.
We read.

JOHN 6:21  Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Take note.
John did not even mention that Jesus stilled the storm.  He ignored yet another miracle.
Because you see –
For John there was something far more important in what he had experienced and discovered, than Peter walking on the water and even Jesus stilling the storm and it is what Jesus said:
“It is I.”

When I read John’s description of the event, two things stand out and I am sure that this is also what John wants to show us.

Firstly:
That a few very frightened people, were in grave danger.
Secondly:
It is Jesus who says:
“It is I.” and all the problems that were there, are now resolved.

JOHN 6:21  … and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Because who is this Jesus that John is speaking of here?

Occasionally people argue with Jesus:

JOHN 8:57  You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
JOHN 8:58  “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

You see.
Jesus is also I am who spoke to Moses in the wilderness.

EXO 3:13  Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
EXO 3:14  God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”

Jesus is also I am the Word that became flesh and who lived amongst us.

JOHN 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

JOHN 1:14  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Believe me when I tell you, you have now seen what John was telling us.

It makes no difference how strong the storm is or how high the waves are, if you allow Jesus, the I am, the Word who became flesh, to get into your life’s boat it all will fade away.  So much so, that a person does not even have to mention it anymore.

JOHN 6:20  But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
JOHN 6:21  Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Greetings,
Sakkie