Do you want a blessing? I can’t imagine you saying no. In the gospel of John, six time Jesus gives us an “I Am” message so that we may know Who He is. You may say, but I know Who He is, He is God. He is Lord of my life, He is the reason I exist. And that’s all true. But if you’re like me you look over these “I Am” verses and what they mean to you as you walk with Him, Who you know.
John 6:35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
The Bread and Water
Sounds like prison food does it not? Well, the truth of the matter is there are days I feel like I’m in a prison of sorts. The world around me is filled with some of the most vile and wicked people and ideas and my mind cannot fathom why they are so. I long for purity, even in my own mind that can get drug into the cesspool of life. Can you identify? Maybe not. But the purity of the Bread and Water that Christ affords is just what I need. No frills. Just the plain and simple truth. God is still in control and will provide my every need – physically – spiritually – and emotionally. Bread and Water will be just fine.
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The Light
As a child I was afraid of the darkness, as an adult I’m not real brave in it. We know that it’s not the darkness necessarily that we’re afraid of, but what might be in it. By the same token the unknown of life is just as scary when we’re seeking direction, or we’ve got a road ahead of us that we’ve never traveled; and we’re pretty sure it’s going to be rough. How awesome to know that every step on the path before us will have a light. It may not appear until we’ve moved our foot, but it’s there and even in the darkest of times our world is illuminated by the God who created the universe. If He can speak light into a void of nothing, He can certainly cast it forth in our hour of need. Do you need direction today? Move your foot and then look for the light!
The Door
John 10:9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
In my testimony of “that door” I tell the story of the day I opened that door and ask Jesus in. It’s an amazing story (at least to me) because it’s mine! That day my house became His house. Bought and paid for! I could go out into the world, or I could just stay in, but either way I enjoyed His company.
The Shepherd
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The house that was bought and paid for was paid for by the blood of the Lamb. He Who created the lambs, and at one time required their sacrifice for atonement of sin became the Lamb of God Who was the final sacrifice needed. He is the Shepherd because He has been the lamb. He knows everything we go through because He came to earth and experienced it for Himself. And then in the final moments of His life, with His flesh fighting against Him, He won the battle for us to have eternal life with Him. No matter what you’re going through today, He knows all about it and wants to take care of it. Let Him.
The Resurrection
John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Glory!!! To have that knowledge will get you through the bleakest of times. When my Dad passed away in 2003 I had no idea of the peace that would flood my soul in those dark hours. To know that my Dad was only temporarily gone from my presence made that pain subside and turn to hope. The hope that we all who know Jesus have and that hope is that we’ll be joined together in Heaven with Him. But not only that hope… the hope of life here. Before knowing Christ we are dead inside, but when we accept Him there is a new man that arises within us that walks and talks differently. The new man has a new purpose and that’s to show others the hope he/she has found in Jesus Christ!!!
The Way, Truth, and Life
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I remember the BC days, before Christ entered my life. I was the walking dead. I had no idea which direction I should go in life, the truth was vague at best and my life was without meaning. Sound dramatic? It was dramatic. My life looked great on the outside, but inwardly I was in turmoil. I needed to know the way, the truth and the life that God had for me. But I didn’t know how to find it. Not even in the church I attended. But God sent someone my way to show me the Way, the Truth and the Life. Perhaps I’m that person for you today, or perhaps someone else was. If you know Jesus, it’s your turn to tell someone else.
The Vine
John 15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
The Vine. That life giving stem for which the fruit thrives and survives and God Himself is the husbandman. Our Father is our Farmer!!! He gets in there and digs the impurities out of our soil (soul) and then He fertilizes us with the richness of His Word that causes us to grow and produce fruit ourselves. That fruit then is our responsibility to show them how to continue clinging to the True Vine so that they too can produce fruit and just imagine a vineyard that goes for a million miles and that’s what Heaven is going to look like if we help God farm the land.
I love the “I Am’s!” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They stir my soul. I hope they stirred yours today too.
