Tag: I AM

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5)

Cut a branch from a vine and it will stop bearing fruit. The key to bearing fruit in the Christian life is staying connected to Jesus. Remain in him. You don’t receive Jesus and then move onto bigger and better things. There are no bigger and better things than Jesus! If Jesus is “the life“, then disconnecting from him means disconnecting from the source of life.

If you’re not connected to Jesus – anything you do is useless. Those connected to Jesus will be useful, they will bear fruit for eternity. Going through a tough time? You may be getting pruned: this refinement leads to greater fruit! Remain in Jesus.

This is the final part in the I AM series. Check out the other 7 posts here.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7)

Jesus says he’s the only way to God. If that is true, Jesus is saying that the only true religion is Christianity and that all other religions are false. Does this make Jesus arrogant? Not at all! If Jesus really is the only way to the Father – the most loving thing that Jesus (and his followers) can do is tell people the truth.

Just before the bit quoted above, Jesus says he is going to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s house. I used to picture Jesus going into each room and making the bed and placing a towel and soap on the end of each bed. That’s a little bit silly. How does Jesus prepare a place for people in heaven? He goes via the cross. Jesus’ death for sinners and resurrection to new life is the way that he makes access to God possible. Trust him.

Find out more about Jesus.

Jesus comforts Martha on the occasion of her brothers’ death and he says: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Jesus is just about to do something crazy. Lazarus has been dead for 4 days. Yet Jesus brings him back to life. However, Lazarus would one day die again. The ‘resurrection’ and ‘life’ that Jesus offers to those who believe in him – is a resurrection and a life that will never end. Do you believe this?

In John’s Gospel there are 7 signs (miracles) that are recorded that reveal Jesus’ identity as God’s Promised King. Jesus raising Lazarus to new life is the 7th sign, but ultimately it points to an 8th and even greater sign – the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Never read about it? It’s stunning. Go read it now.

“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 […] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:11,14,18)

Jesus is good. In the surrounding verses there is a contrast between Jesus and the shepherds who have come before him; they were bad. The OT Prophet big guns each speak of the dodginess of the unfaithful shepherds over Israel and that God himself will come to shepherd his people (see Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:1-4; Ezekiel 34).

Jesus cares for his sheep. He demonstrates his love for them by willingly laying down his life for them. It would have been pretty rare for a shepherd to do for his sheep, yet Jesus did it willingly?!?! Why did he do it? Because “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” and so in the death of Jesus, “the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Return to the Good Shepherd.

Our desire for safety and security impacts our relationships, real estate, employment, parenting and more. Sometimes we make investments into things that aren’t ultimately secure. Jesus offers safety, security and salvation – not just for this life, but for eternity.

Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:7-10)

Want real security? Enter through Jesus.

Jesus 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) Light vs Darkness is a recurring theme in John’s Gospel. The opening verses of John have already described Jesus as the light who came into dark world, yet the darkness doesn’t recognise him. But some do recognise him.

Lots of people stumble through life looking for answers. Jesus says stop stumbling! Those who recognise that Jesus is the light are given eternal life. In John 9, Jesus again says that he’s the light of the world, and then heals a man born blind. This is a picture of Jesus being the one who enables the blind to see, not just physically, but spiritually. Some people think they can see but can’t actually see.

Check out this picture of life in the new creation: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” (Revelation 21) That’s pretty cool.

People try all sorts of things to try and be satisfied. When we’re not satisfied, we grumble. In the Old Testament, Israel were grumble bums. God rescued them out of slavery, yet they got bored and said they’d rather go back to Egypt. While they were wandering around the desert, God provided them with some tasty tasty treats (manna), it was exactly what they needed, yet they still grumbled and complained.

What Jesus offers is really really satisfying. Check it: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

Just before this, they’ve asked Jesus for some of the manna-like bread that their forefathers had received. Jesus says, he’s the bread! Jesus brings lasting satisfaction.

Dissatisfied with life? Like to grumble? Jesus says come to him. To those who believe in Jesus, he gives life. Not just any kind of life, but eternal life. Life forever.

Trust him. Be satisfied in him.