Seven Things Jesus Is

 

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  John 15:1

 The website “Got Questions” brought to my attention this morning that Jesus makes seven “I Am” statements that are recorded only in John’s gospel. I realize our reading for today, as well as this entire study, is based on the last of these, but in order to get the full impact of what Jesus is teaching us in this analogy, I feel like I need to go back and at least look at the other six leading up to it. I feel like it would be a little like watching Marvel’s End Game without watching the 21 movies that introduced characters and fleshed out story lines beforehand. I know people that did that, and although they thought it was a pretty good movie, I could only shake my head.

I AM the Bread of Life

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. [John 6:35 NIV]

 My son’s girlfriend, who has Celiac Disease, gave me a t-shirt for Christmas with the image above on it. Coming from someone who isn’t supposed to eat bread, at least in this season, this is an interesting statement! I fully see the implication that bread was, in that time, the primary sustenance for Jesus’ audience. It’s how they felt filled and satisfied every day. It’s what they worked so hard to produce. I can’t imagine there was ever a day when someone in that society didn’t think about bread. To be completely honest, even though I can’t have it – or maybe because I can’t have it – I do too. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is our sustenance. He is our sufficiency. He makes us feel full and satisfied. He is truly all we need!

I AM the Light of the World

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." [John 8:12 NIV]

 I had a first appointment with a neuro physical therapist recently. As we were going over some of my challenges, including double vision, dizziness/vertigo, and a decrease in my proprioception, he was adamant that I not walk around in the dark at night. I did it before I saw him, and I’ll continue to do it after as I didn’t put much stock in what he had to say, but this one stuck with me. Most people have a good sense of what’s around them and can navigate familiar spaces without injury. I, on the other hand, seem to bump into anything that is near me, almost as if I’m drawn to it like a magnet! At night this is even worse as my limited faculties are further challenged by the lack of light. When Jesus says here that He is the Light of the World, it says to me that He is the truth that shows us what we need to see. The more we are in Him, the less we fumble around, bumping into the things around us!

I AM the Door of the Sheep

Therefore Jesus said again, "Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. [John 10:7,9 NIV]

 I’ve heard multiple sermons and read various commentaries on this passage over my life. My cumulative understanding is that when sheep were in a fold, thieves and robbers would sneak in through various cracks in the walls, etc, but that the shepherd, the one who could be trusted and took good care of the sheep, only entered through the door. Just as the sheep had to go through the door to go out to pasture and come in to find safety and rest at night, so we need to go out into the world and return to our safe space to rest through our door, Jesus.

I AM the Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—" [John 10:11,14 NIV]

 Let’s be honest, there are good shepherds, and there are bad ones. Not all shepherds were the kind, strong, supportive leaders of their sheep that Jesus is. So He calls out here that He is a Good Shepherd. How does He prove this? He laid down His life for us! Not like one of those shepherds that just show up for a 9-5 and do the bare minimum, Jesus knows us each individually by name. He knows the hairs on our heads. He knows all of our days before one of them had come about. In addition, we, His sheep, know Him. We can sense in our hearts when we hear His voice. He guides us to still waters and good pastures. He protects and He provides.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [John 11:25 NIV]

 Jesus is our hope for eternity. The one sure thing about life, is that it will end. Each of us face, usually many times over, the question of what will happen to us after we die. When we lose a loved one, we long for the hope that we will be reunited with them someday. When life is at its darkest, we need something to look forward to beyond it. Jesus is that hope. In Him we have assurance that when we are absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus even told the thief on the cross, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43). In Jesus we will experience the resurrection of our spiritual bodies and life everlasting in His presence!

I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6 NIV]

 I am strongly influenced by what I watch. That is why I have opted to not watch some of the biblical remakes that have been made recently because I have to be careful to guard my heart against “suggestion” or “artistic license.” That said, God often uses pop culture and things I see and experience to teach me things about Himself. So, when I hear this phrase, I hear, “This is The Way!” IYKYK. In my pop culture example here, the Mandalorian if you didn’t catch on, people use the phrase, “this is the way” to affirm a course of action as being according to their ideals. They indicate that there is one right way, “The Way,” and many wrong ones. While I wouldn’t say I buy into their way, the idea is sound. Jesus uses a form of the words way, truth and life that indicate there is only one correct one. There is no way we can live life to its fullest and experience heaven when we die apart from Jesus. He is The Way.

I AM the True Vine

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ... "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [John 15:1, 5 NIV]

 And finally we reach the point in today’s lesson. Jesus is the True Vine. He is the source for all strength, nourishment and life. Just like with a grape vine, if the branches are separated from it they die. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Jesus is the true vine. There are other sources out there, but ultimately they will not satisfy. If we remain, abide, in Jesus, we will bear much fruit. God’s work in our lives will be evident.

Here's the Thing: Jesus is the I AM. He IS. He is Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door of the Sheep, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way the Truth and the Life, and the True Vine. He is all this and so much more! This is the why, the why we need to abide in Him, the why we are here today. Jesus is ALL we will ever need!

Abiding in Jesus

  1. Week 1: Trusting the Gardener's Work
    1. John 15:1 - Seven Things Jesus Is
    2. John 15:2 - Pinch Those Suckers Out!
    3. Philippians 2:12-13 - Working Out My Salvation
    4. Matthew 5:16 - Stay Salty!
    5. 1 John 1:6 - Walking in Relationship
  2. Week 2: Bearing Lasting Fruit
    1. John 15:3-4
    2. John 15:5
    3. John 15:6
    4. Psalm 1:2-3
    5. Galatians 5:22
  3. Week 3: Abiding in Jesus Through His Word
    1. John 15:7-8
    2. John 8:31-32
    3. Psalm 119:9-11
    4. Psalm 119:15-16
    5. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  4. Week 4: Abiding in Jesus Through Obedience
    1. John 15:9-10
    2. James 1:22
    3. 1 John 3:24
    4. Matthew 7:24-25
    5. John 14:23-24
  5. Week 5: Abiding in Jesus Through Love
    1. John 15:11-12
    2. John 15:13-14
    3. 1 John 4:10
    4. 1 John 4:11-12
    5. Romans 12:9-13
  6. Week 6: Chosen and Commissioned by Christ to Bear Fruit
    1. John 15:15
    2. John 15:16
    3. Ephesians 2:10
    4. Galatians 6:9
    5. John 15:17

Wrap-Up

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