Jesus Proclaims Himself In The Gospel Of John
From the very beginning, John was drawn to Jesus. John is represented in the Gospels as being closer to Jesus than any other disciple. He refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved.”
John is the son of Zebedee, both are fisherman. Along the shore of the Sea of Galilee they prepared nets in their boat with John’s brother James. The Bible tells us: Without delay he [Jesus] called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:20
John believed in Jesus, and his gospel ignites the word believe. Perhaps because of the specific closeness John shared with Jesus, John is the only gospel to include Jesus’ messianic claims.
In each messianic claim, Jesus provides in-depth knowledge of Himself, referencing the great “I Am”. I am is the name God declared as His own to Moses at the burning bush Exodus 3:14.
1. I am the bread of life. John 6:35-40 (emphasis added)
Bread was the primary food of ancient Israel; bread is also a metaphor for life. As the bread of life, Jesus is telling us only through believing in Him can we have a spiritual life with His Father. Jesus explained the manna Moses gave their ancestors was temporary and did not keep them from dying. But Jesus, our spiritual bread, sustains believers for eternal life.
2. I am the light of the world. John 8:12-20
Jesus not only lights our path so we may follow Him, but because of His light we are able to view our sin. By following Jesus we can step over that trap door of pride. Avoid building the brick wall of lies. Jump over the green monster of envy. And His light will continually eliminate that custom escape door He built specifically for you.
3. I am the gate for the sheep. John 10:1-10
As Jesus continues to talk metaphorically, His reference to a gate is insightful. Gates protect a flock from intrusion and from wandering away. His claim offers us unending protection. Through the gate is also the only true way in and out of a sheep pen, so anyone who enters another way is considered a thief.
4. I am the good shepherd. John 10:11-18
A good shepherd often slept across the doorway of the gate for added safety. He knows all His sheep by name and the sheep know His voice. The Good Shepherd would lay down His life to save His flock, which is exactly what Jesus did for us on The Cross.
5. I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25-26
Jesus made this claim about Himself as He spoke to Martha in Bethany, right before He raised her brother Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was not only telling us He has power over life and death, He was also showing us. He who is life can restore life.
6. I am the way and the truth. John 14:6-14
Jesus is the only way to God. He is both man and God. Jesus came that we might know Him and learn Truth – that He died for the sins of mankind so we may spend eternity with Him in heaven.
7. I am the true vine. John 15:1-17
Israel knew quite well how to grow luscious grapes. The vine is the thicker stock of the plant. Nutrients flow from the vine into its many branches to grow the fruit tended by the gardner. In this analogy, Jesus is the vine. He provides us with nutrients (God’s teachings) needed for eternal life. The branches are us believers. By receiving God’s teaching, we are inspired to grow fruit (live by God’s law, do good for others…).
The Gardner (God), continually cares for and tends His branches; pruning branches when necessary to make them grow. If the Gardner finds we are not fruitful, we are cut off to be burned.
I encourage you to pray right now and accept Jesus as your savior.
Inviting Him into your life secures your eternity in heaven, offers you hope for a future and provides you with the kind of joy that only Jesus offers.
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