bb-TBC-30

There is a British TV series called 'who do you think you are?'

It traces the family tree of well-known, and sometimes obscure, personalities to create a family tree. You never know what you are going to find when you start digging about in your family's past. But 'who I am' is not determined by who my ancestors were. When Moses asked God for his name, he replied "I am who I am".

We have come into the New Testament scriptures now and we encounter a person who had the audacity to use that favourite formula often in the course of his earthly ministry. At the beginning of the gospel accounts we meet encounter another person who frequently used a different formula; he constantly declared "I am not...", but the one he introduced to Israel declares...

• "tengo un lapiz" or "Yo tengo un lapiz"? "I have a pencil"

  • "This is why in Spanish we rarely use personal pronouns in a text or in oral speech. We do use them for emphasis, or when the context may lead to confusion if we didn't use a personal pronoun."

    SpanishDict

    Example: I told the children my name: translation: Yo hable los niños mi llamo. Would the yo in front be right? Or does it just sound silly? I'm not sure half of my class does it, the other half doesn't.

    https://www.spanishdict.com/answers/110875/do-i-need-to-say-yo-tu-elella...ect.-in-front-of-every-sentence-

    

  • NT Greek: Emphatic pronouns

    egō eimi = " I am

    1. I am the bread of life. (John 6:48 NKJV)

    2. ¶ Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)

    3. ¶ Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58 NKJV)

    4. ¶ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7 NKJV)

    5. ¶ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (John 10:11 NKJV)

    6. ¶ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (John 11:25 NKJV)

    7. ¶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 NKJV)

    8. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. (John 15:1 NKJV)

    9. Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:5–6 NKJV)

  • As I read these self-revelations they speak to me of Christ's consciousness of divinity.

    • The religious leaders of his picked up the inference and accused him of claiming equility with God. The Word became flesh; he was God, but the incarnation is the result of him refusing to claim 'equality with God'.

The Messenger of the Covenant

• This is the reference from Malachi: Malachi 3:1 ASV

  ¶ Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. (Malachi 3:1 ASV)

  The Septuagint: The Greek Translation of the Hebrew OT c200BC

  send: ἐξαποστέλλω ex-apostellō ἐξαποστέλλω (ἐκ, ἀπό, στέλλω) exapostellō (ek, apo, stellō) Verb 1 sing pres act indic to send away, send forth, destroy - (Liddell & Scott)

  messenger: there are 450 references to angels/messengers in the Bible

  • Old Testament: x275

    Gen 16:7-11; 19:1, 15-16; 21:17; 22:11, 15; 24:7, 40; 28:12; 31:11; 32:2, 4, 7; 48:16; Exod 3:2; 4:24; 14:19; 23:20, 23; 32:34; 33:2; Num 20:14, 16; 22:22-27, 31-32, 34-35; 24:12; Deut 32:8, 43; 33:2; Josh 7:22; Judg 2:1, 4; 4:8; 5:23; 6:11-12, 14, 16, 20-22, 35; 7:24; 9:31; 11:12-14, 17, 19; 13:3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15-18, 20-21; 1 Sam 6:21; 11:3-4, 7, 9; 16:19; 19:11, 14, 16, 20-21; 23:27; 25:14; 2 Sam 2:5; 3:12, 14, 26; 5:11; 11:4, 19, 22-23, 25; 12:27; 14:17, 20; 19:28; 24:16-17; 1 Kgs 13:18; 19:7; 21:5, 9; 22:13; 2 Kgs 1:2-3, 5, 15-16; 5:10; 6:32-33; 7:15, 17; 9:18; 10:8; 14:8; 16:7; 17:4; 18:14; 19:9, 14, 23, 35; 1 Chr 14:1; 19:2, 16; 21:12, 15-16, 18, 27, 30; 2 Chr 18:12; 32:21; 35:21; 36:15-16; 1 Esd 1:48-49; Neh 6:3; Esth 15:13; Jdt 1:11; 3:1; Tob 5:4, 6, 17, 22; 6:3-5, 7, 11, 14, 16; 8:3, 15; 11:14; 12:5, 15, 22; 1 Macc 1:44; 5:14; 7:10, 41; 2 Macc 11:6; 15:22-23; 3 Macc 6:18; 4 Macc 4:10; 7:11; Ps 8:6; 33:8; 34:5-6; 77:25, 49; 90:11; 96:7; 102:20; 103:4; 137:1; 148:2; 151:4; Odes 2:8, 43; 8:58; Prov 13:17; 16:14; 17:11; 25:13; 26:6; Job 1:6, 14, 16-18; 2:1; 4:18; 5:1; 20:15; 33:23; 36:14; 38:7; 40:11, 19; 41:25; Wis 16:20; Sir 43:26; 48:21; Hos 12:5; Hag 1:13; Zech 1:9, 11-14, 17; 2:2, 7; 3:1, 3, 5-6; 4:1, 4-5; 5:5, 10; 6:4-5; 12:8; Mal 1:1; 2:7; 3:1; Isa 9:5; 18:2; 30:4; 33:7; 37:9, 14, 24, 36; 44:26; 63:9; Jer 30:8; 34:3; LetJer 1:6; Ezek 17:15; 23:16, 40; 30:9; Dan 2:11; 3:49, 58, 92, 95; 4:13, 22-24, 32, 34; 10:21; 12:1; Sus 1:44, 55, 59-60; Bel 1:34, 36, 39

  • New Testament: x175

    Matt 1:20, 24; 2:13, 19; 4:6, 11; 11:10; 13:39, 41, 49; 16:27; 18:10; 22:30; 24:31, 36; 25:31, 41; 26:53; 28:2, 5; Mark 1:2, 13; 8:38; 12:25; 13:27, 32; Luke 1:11, 13, 18–19, 26, 30, 34–35, 38; 2:9–10, 13, 15, 21; 4:10; 7:24, 27; 9:26, 52; 12:8–9; 15:10; 16:22; 22:43; 24:23; John 1:51; 12:29; 20:12; Acts 5:19; 6:15; 7:30, 35, 38, 53; 8:26; 10:3, 7, 22; 11:13; 12:7–11, 15, 23; 23:8–9; 27:23; Rom 8:38; 1 Cor 4:9; 6:3; 11:10; 13:1; 2 Cor 11:14; 12:7; Gal 1:8; 3:19; 4:14; Col 2:18; 2 Thess 1:7; 1 Tim 3:16; 5:21; Heb 1:4–7, 13; 2:2, 5, 7, 9, 16; 12:22; 13:2; Jas 2:25; 1 Pet 1:12; 3:22; 2 Pet 2:4, 11; Jude 1:6; Rev 1:1, 20–2:1; 2:8, 12, 18; 3:1, 5, 7, 14; 5:2, 11; 7:1–2, 11; 8:2–6, 8, 10, 12–9:1; 9:11, 13–15; 10:1, 5, 7–10; 11:15; 12:7, 9; 14:6, 8–10, 15, 17–19; 15:1, 6–16:1; 16:5; 17:1, 7; 18:1, 21; 19:17; 20:1; 21:9, 12, 17; 22:6, 8, 16

• The Four Messengers of Malachi

  1. Malachi = Messenger

  2. The Levitical Priesthood
     1. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts. But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law. (Malachi 2:7–9 ASV)

  3. John Baptist
     1. “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. (Malachi 3:1 NKJV)

  4. The Messiah
     1. and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? (Malachi 3:1–2 ASV)
     • Isaac Watts: Join all the glorious names... originally had 12 stanzas

       • Original stanza 3:

         Arrayed in mortal flesh, He like an angel stands, (or 'the covenant angel stands') And holds the promises And pardons in His hands; Commissioned from His Father’s throne To make His grace to mortals known.

         Hymn: Join all the glorious names

         Join all the glorious names Of wisdom, love, and pow'r, That mortals ever knew, That angels ever bore; All are too mean to speak His...

         https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/80

         

     Reading the gospel accounts? look for the messenger of the covenant.

Did you get my message?

• The proto-messenger: John Baptist

  ¶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (John 1:6 NKJV)

  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (John 1:33 NKJV)

  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ (John 3:28 NKJV)

• The Messenger of the Covenant

  • The apostle/messenger in John 17 - apostellō

    And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3 NKJV)

    For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. (John 17:8 NKJV)

    As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (John 17:18 NKJV)

    I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:23 NKJV)

    O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. (John 17:25 NKJV)

  • apostellō in the Gospel according to John

    1. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. (John 3:34 NKJV)

    2. ¶ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (John 4:34 NKJV)

    3. that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. (John 5:23 NKJV)

    4. ¶ “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24 NKJV)

    5. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:30 NKJV)

    6. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. (John 5:36–38 NKJV)

    7. ¶ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29 NKJV)

    8. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38–40 NKJV)

    9. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44 NKJV)

    10. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. (John 6:57 NKJV)

    11. ¶ Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. (John 7:16 NKJV)

    12. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. (John 7:18 NKJV)

    13. ¶ Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” (John 7:28–29 NKJV)

    14. ¶ The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. (John 7:32–33 NKJV)

    15. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. (John 8:16 NKJV)

    16. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” (John 8:18 NKJV)

    17. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” (John 8:26 NKJV)

    18. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29 NKJV)

    19. ¶ Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. (John 8:42 NKJV)

    20. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4 NKJV)

    21. do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (John 10:36 NKJV)

    22. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:42 NKJV)

    23. ¶ Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. (John 12:44–45 NKJV)

    24. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. (John 12:49 NKJV)

    25. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. (John 13:16 NKJV)

    26. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (John 13:20 NKJV)

    27. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. (John 14:24 NKJV)

    28. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (John 15:21 NKJV)

    29. ¶ “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ (John 16:5 NKJV)

    30. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3 NKJV)

    31. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. (John 17:8 NKJV)

    32. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (John 17:18 NKJV)

    33. that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21 NKJV)

    34. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:23 NKJV)

    35. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. (John 17:25 NKJV)

    36. ¶ So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21 NKJV)

    37. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:9–10 NKJV)

    38. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. (1John 4:14 NKJV)

    39. ¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (Revelation 1:1 NKJV)

  • apostello: x33

    John 1:6, 19, 24; 3:17, 28, 34; 4:38; 5:33, 36, 38; 6:29, 57; 7:29, 32; 8:42; 9:7; 10:36; 11:3, 42; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25; 18:24; 20:21; 1 John 4:9–10, 14; Rev 1:1; 5:6; 22:6

  • pempo: x37

    John 1:22, 33; 4:34; 5:23–24, 30, 37; 6:38–40, 44; 7:16, 18, 28, 33; 8:16, 18, 26, 29; 9:4; 12:44–45, 49; 13:16, 20; 14:24, 26; 15:21, 26; 16:5, 7; 20:21; Rev 1:11; 11:10; 14:15, 18; 22:16

  • Christ Jesus - The Apostle

    Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, (Hebrews 3:1 NKJV)

    his earthly ministry and his heavenly ministry

• Who were the people best placed to receive the message?

  God had been preparing them over hundreds of years to receive the Messenger and his message. God had blessed them with many earthly blessings, land, priesthood, covenants, promises, the service of God... but Paul was in no doubt as the greatest blessing...

  Israel's greatest treasure was their archive of God's spoken word to them. As they read these Holy Scriptures and obeyed them. their minds would be prepared to recognise 'God's accent', or to use our old analogy they would recognise the old colours and make the connections. This was Israel's supreme folly and tragedy described in the opening chapter of John's gospel account;

  • John 1:9–11 NKJV

    That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. ¶ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (John 1:9–11 NKJV)

    They refused to recognise him, as The Messenger, and refused to receive his Witness.

the message is of no value unless it is 'received'

• Call Sign - Semaphore

  both flags in a V shape over your head waved until acknowledged with a 'C' flag.

  no message is sent until the 'C' flag is seen.

  Do people still have that responsibility of responding to the Messenger? Yes, they do and their destiny will depend upon their response to the Messenger. The Messenger may speak today through a preacher or a Bible verse or by any means he chooses but it is not my response to the human messenger that is the most important but my response to The Messenger. The light is still shining, Christ is still bearing witness. It's our response to him as a person and not our response to theology which changes our destiny.

  Listen to the way Paul spoke in the letter to the Ephesians;

  • Ephesianss 4:20-21

    but you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus:

Paul believed that men and women were still able to 'learn Christ' by 'hearing him and being taught by him'. The Ephesian letter was written over 30 years after Christ had returned to heaven and his Father side; but Paul still expected men and women to 'hear' him and be 'taught' by him. He is still the Messenger of the Covenant.

It was true then and it is true now those who receive his witness, to those who receive him as Gods Messenger of the Covenant, to those he holds out the prospect of a new birth and a new destiny.