March 30 , 2008

When Jesus said I AM, He was identifying Who is for us. He was saying This is my identity. This is Who I am. It's who I always was, and it's Who I always will be for you.

When Jesus said, I AM the Light of the world, He was identifying himself as the revelation of God to bring light into a dark and lost world.

When He said, I AM the Bread of Life, He was identifying His body, specifically the sacrificial giving of His body to death, as essential to life for us.

When He said, I AM the Good Shepherd , He was identifying His love and devotion, His goodness and mercy , His protection for the sheep, His knowledge of the sheep and His desire for other sheep to experience His love.

When He said, I AM the Gate for the sheep, He identified Himself as your Source of Healing, of Care and of Abundant Living.

When He said, I AM the True Vine , He identified Himself as your Source of Life-Giving character traits that add quality to our lives.

When He said, I AM the Resurrection , He was saying, "I am your Source for eternal life." He was saying, "I am your Source for a unique and powerful and forever existence in a body outfitted for eternity."

When Jesus said I AM, He was saying, I AM the Eternal One . I AM means He always was, is now and always will be. In today's passage, three times Jesus said to them : I AM:

1. Jesus told the Pharisees, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am , you will indeed die in your sins . "Who are you?" they asked (John 8:23-25).

2. Verse 28, Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am .

3. Verse 57: You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham! I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am !

Whether Lord, lunatic or liar, His I AM s, demands a response. His words cannot be ignored. What is your response to Who Jesus is?

OVER

When you consider the Godhead, the Trinity, the Bible portrays three distinct Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are co- eternal and co- equal as One God. Generally:

The Father makes the plan.

Jesus Christ executed the plan of God.

The Holy Spirit reveals the plan.

Jesus is more than mere man; He is God! He identifies Himself as God. John began His Gospel with these words about the identification of Jesus: IN THE beginning, before all time, was the Word (Jesus Christ himself), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

Verse 12: But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the power and right to become God's own children . This privilege of being in the family of God goes to those who believe in, adhere to, trust in, and rely on His name. 13 We become God's children not because of natural descent, nor of human decision, but because we are born of God.

Here's one of the greatest of the Great I AM s of the Bible. In John 14:6, Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1. When he said, I AM the Way, He was saying, "I am much more to you than just a road sign to heaven; I am your very way to heaven."

2. When he said, I AM the Truth, He was saying, "I am much more to you than doctrine; I am your truth for reality and honesty."

3. When He said, I AM the Life, He was saying, "I am much more to you than a lifestyle, I join my life to your life, and so I become your source of life .

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