The Seven Great I AMs of Jesus (April 16, 2023)

This being the Sunday after Easter Sunday, I want us to stop and take a look at just seven of the things that Jesus said He would be in our lives.

I am the bread of life

John 6:35 ~ “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

People eat bread to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. We can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life only by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. No wonder he called himself the Bread of life. But bread must be eaten to give life, and Christ must be invited into our daily walk to give spiritual life.

Matthew 4: 3 – 4 ~ “And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

John 1:1 ~ “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Luke 22:19 ~ “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””

I am the light of the world

John 8:12 ~ “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

When we follow Jesus, the Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives. Have you allowed the light of Christ to shine into your life? Let Christ guide your life, and you’ll never need to stumble in darkness.

I am the door

John 10:9 ~ “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

I am the good shepherd

John 10:11 ~ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

A hired man tends the sheep for money, while the shepherd does it for love. The shepherd owns the sheep and is committed to them. Jesus is not merely doing a job; he is committed to love us and even lay down his life for us. False teachers and false prophets do not have this commitment.

I am the resurrection and the life

John 11:25 ~ “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

Jesus has the power over life and death as well as power to forgive sins. This is because he is the Creator of life. He who is life can surely restore life. Whoever believes in him has a spiritual life that death cannot touch or diminish in any way. When we realize his power and how wonderful his offer to us really is, how can we help but commit our lives to him! To those of us who believe, what wonderful assurance and certainty we have.

John 14:19 ~ “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

I am the way, the truth, and the life

John 14:6 ~ “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This is one of the most basic and important passages in Scripture. How can we know that way to God? Only through Jesus. Jesus is the way because he is both God and man. Bu uniting our lives with his, we are united with God. Trust Jesus to take you to the Father, and all the benefits of being God’s child will be yours.

Jesus says he is the only way to God the Father. Some people may argue that this is too narrow. In reality, it is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying, “Thank you, God, for providing a sure way to get to you!”

I am the vine

John 15:1, 5 ~ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

The grapevine is a prolific plant; a single vine bears many grapes. In the Old Testament, grapes symbolized Israel’s fruitfulness in doing God’s work on the earth. In the Passover meal, the fruit of the vine symbolized God’s goodness to his people.

Fruit is not limited to soul-winning.