THIS BLOG CONTAINS:
- Series introduction
- Community group/family study
- Daily bible studies
- You can listen to all the messages at: Click this link to audio content
- For more information visit www.communitychurchputney.com
SERIES INTRODUCTION
This question of Jesus echoes down the years to you and me, Jesus asks us, “Who do you say I am?”(Matt. 16:15)
At Christmas we focus on Jesus as a newborn baby. He was born in poverty and yet He was announced by Angels, and wise men travelled thousands of miles to celebrate Him.
Two-thousand years after His birth, He is still the most famous, most revered, and most misunderstood person in history.
Maybe like Steven Weinberg you say,
‘The world needs to wake up from the long nightmare of religion… Anything we scientists can do to weaken the hold of religion should be done, and may in fact be our greatest contribution to civilization.’
Is Jesus a cause of war? Is He best ignored and fought against? According to a special poll for the BBC in 2004, only 46% of people in the UK have any faith in God, and almost a third (29%) of people in the UK believe that the world would be a more peaceful place without beliefs in God!
Maybe you are a Christian. You have given your life to Jesus as Lord and Saviour. And yet His friendship, presence and joy seem just out of reach or a memory.
These seven “I am” statements, give us a portrait of Jesus. Let’s allow Jesus to teach us about Himself and learn to treasure and trust Him through this series.
NOTE ON THE USE OF “I AM…” BY JESUS
In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven “I am” statements, each beginning with “I am” (Ἐγώεἰμι)
Jesus, in referring to Himself as “I am…” is declaring Himself to be God. This name refers back to what we read in Exodus,
Exodus 3:13-14‘Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’
When God revealed Himself to Moses, He tells him that His name is, “I am who I am” (“Yahweh” corresponding to the four Hebrew consonants YHWH). This name reveals the nature of God as eternal and unchanging. God is! He exists and He is to be defined according to how He reveals Himself to be.
Man in sin likes to say of God “you are…” and create a God that is in their image, with their opinions. To be a Christian is to accept God as He reveals Himself to be, and allow Him to shape our ‘image’ – our thinking and lifestyle.
Each of these ‘I am’ statements are revelations of who God is. These are revelations of inestimable worth.
‘These seven “I am” statements are emphatic descriptions of the person and ministry of Jesus and cumulatively form a detailed picture of Jesus Christ.’ (Edward Klink III)
Over this Christmas period, let’s give time to savour these gifts of truth. Let’s meditate, pray, worship, memorise, and enter into all that is promised for those who will seek to know Jesus.
COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY 1
“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (JOHN 6:35 & 8:12)
John 6:35Then 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 8:12When 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.”
· What two things, in particular, from Israel’s time in the desert (after leaving Egypt) are these two metaphors to remind us of? (See Exodus 13:21-22 & 16:4)
Jesus is the Bread of life
· Bread is a very powerful metaphor that speaks of the satisfaction of our needs and desires. What are the kinds of things (good and bad) that we can all make our ‘bread’?
· What do you think are the range of things that Jesus might mean by using this metaphor of bread/manna in regard to His identity?
· To benefit from Jesus, what two synonymous things does John 6:35 say we are to do? How is this to be both a one-off and a daily activity?
· What does Jesus say will be the result of receiving this bread? Is this true of you? How can one make it one’s experience?
Jesus is the light of the world
· What do you think are the range of things that Jesus might mean by using this metaphor of light in regard to His identity?
· We have all heard the expression ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’. Light speaks of what we hope for. We are to live and hope for in Jesus? What other things can one substitute for Jesus as our light?
· Jesus says that those ‘who follow me will never walk in darkness’. This is an encouragement to whole-hearted devotion. Our enjoyment of Jesus (the light) is linked to following Him. How are you doing at following Jesus?
· Jesus, in describing Himself as light, teaches us that He leads and protects (As we saw in Exodus 13:21), and that we are to ‘follow Him’. In what you believe, and the decisions of your life, do you expect, and seek, Jesus’ guidance, and, if so, how do you do this?
· How are both bread and light symbolic of the salvation that we can have through Jesus? (See 6:31 and 1:9-13)
RESPONSE
Bread and light are two very powerful symbols speaking of what we treasure and hope in. Without Christ, bread and light can be material comforts, our performance, reputation etc. Jesus is declaring that in Him is true satisfaction and life – knowing Him is true satisfaction and life. He is not a means to an end, He is the end!
I’ve included some further notes below for those who want to explore in more detail how Jesus leads us.
HOW TO BE LED BY JESUS
The Israelites had a cloud and fire (light) to lead them in the desert. This is demonstrative of the ‘age of the Sprit’ that we live in. Jesus is the ‘light of the world’ and we are to follow Him. Let’s think briefly about how we can do this.
JESUS LEADS THOSE WHO PRAY
· Pray about all decisions and ask God to speak and lead
· Pray with a friend or leader and ask their advice; do they have any sense of leading from God?
HE LEADS THROUGH HIS WORD
· Prayerful study - Is it in line with the clear teaching of scripture?
· Does God cause any aspect of scripture to stand out that leans you toward a decision?
· As you listen to bible teaching listen for direction from God through what’s being said (1 Peter 4:11).
JESUS LEADS IN PROPHECY AND PROVIDENCE
· The prophetic – Dreams, visions and prophetic words – God speaks in these ways. Do you have past prophecies that help?
· Providence - ‘Coincidences’, circumstances, provision, ‘open doors’
· All this needs to by weighed thoughtfully and prayerfully.
HE LEADS THROUGH DESIRES
· God’s leading can be as simple as an inner compulsion to do a certain thing. When possible, get advice before taking action.
· What do you want to do? – A pointer to God’s will can be a desire that He’s put in you. Compassion is also a good pointer.
JESUS LEADS IN WISDOM
· Weigh the cost in terms of money and sacrifice?
· Does this opportunity fit with your gifts and capacity?
In seeking to hear God’s voice we are asking is it in line with the revealed will of scripture and are their multiple voices and circumstances that are confirming what’s in your heart? In the end you will have to take a step of faith – you will have to ‘walk on the water’.
MONDAY – I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
John 6:35Then 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.
Jesus compares Himself to bread. In so doing He is using an experience that everyone has had. Food is a basic need, without which everyone becomes hungry, and, if left unchecked, leads to death. Earlier in this chapter He fed five thousand; this event is meant to remind us of how God provided bread (Manna) in the desert for His wandering people (Exodus 16) where God said,
Exodus 16:4“I will rain down bread from heaven for you…”
God providing miraculous ‘bread from heaven’ is a foreshadowing of Jesus; as Jesus says,
John 6:32-33Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
God provides bread for the Israelites so that they would not die in the desert; Jesus has been given so that we will not die – so we will not continue under the wrath and separation from God.
RESPONSE
Have you ‘eaten’ of Christ? Can you remember when you first received Jesus as Lord and Saviour? Have you eaten of Him today? Do you make it a daily habit to apply the gospel to yourself again? Don’t wander in the desert, hungry and complaining. Eat from Christ.
Spend some time meditating on, and praying out of the following text. Bear in mind that references to food and drink are about Christ.
1 Kings 19:4-8“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
Those who put their faith in Christ will be ‘strengthened’. They will reach the ‘mountain of God’ – they will experience God’s presence and peace through Jesus.
TUESDAY – WHOEVER COMES AND BELIEVES
John 6:35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to mewill never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Smelling bread baking in the oven is wonderful, but is in no way the same as eating it! Many ‘smell’ the aroma of Christ; they hear about his identity and love, they love the idea of Him and what He offers, but never ‘eat’ through faith. Jesus challenges the crowds who were following Him,
John 6:53, 57“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”
How does one ‘eat the flesh’ or ‘feed on’ Jesus?
Come by believing in Jesus
To ‘come’ to Jesus is to ‘believe’ in Him. It’s to receive Him by faith. Jesus said to the crowds,
John 6:27-29Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
We can do nothing to contribute to our salvation. Many feel that they have to ‘work’ in order to be loved by God. They become ‘hungry and thirsty’ – insecure about their standing with God, particularly if they feel they have failed. The ‘work of God’, says Jesus, is faith. By faith in Christ – His death for sin in particular – one has life.
RESPONSE
Meditate and ‘do the works God requires’ as you put your faith in Christ again.
Romans 4:5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
WEDNESDAY – YOU WILL NEVER HUNGER OR THIRST
John 6:35Then 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.
This is an astounding promise. How can spiritual hunger and thirst be completely and lastingly satiated? Today, let’s learn from God how we are to enjoy the satisfaction that He promises to us.
Hunger and thirst was our state before we received Jesus
This account reminds us of Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman, where Jesus tells her,
John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
‘This water’ is anything that is not Jesus. Spiritual hunger and thirst, firstly, speaks to people who are not Christians. Jesus invites all to objective, spiritual satisfaction as He says,
Isaiah 55:1-3 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread…”
If you have come to Jesus for salvation, you don’t and will never hunger or thirst – you have been reconciled to God.
Hunger and thirst can remain our experience as Christians
Our objective condition of being justified and loved in Christ, should, ideally, be matched by our experience. However, a Christian who fails to cultivate a living relationship with Jesus, will miss the satisfaction that can be theirs. Like the Psalmist we may say,
Psalm 42:11Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
Those who will come to Jesus. Put their Hope in Him. Ask for His presence to fill them. Wait on Him. Come with faith will find complete satisfaction. As Jesus promises,
Matthew 11:28-29“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
RESPONSE
As Israel wandered in the desert, the people were to go out each day (Except the Sabbath) to collect the bread. How are you doing at coming to Jesus daily?
Exodus 16:4“Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day…”
He also says,
John 7:37-38On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
‘Rivers of living water’ means a life that is full of the life of the Spirit, that then overflows to others. This is the promise to all who will come to Him.
What will you do to come to Jesus each day?
THURSDAY – I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John 8:12When 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.”
We have been looking at how Jesus is the ‘bread of life’ and all that this means. Today and tomorrow, we will look at the second of His “I am’ statements: “I am the light of the world”.
These words were spoken during the Feast of Tabernacles. This festival gets its name from the temporary shelters of leaves and branches that the people lived in for the duration of the seven-day festival. It celebrates the harvest and recalled God’s provision and protection of the people in the wilderness. (See Leviticus 23:33-43).
Leviticus 23:43“…So your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
Light played a huge symbolic role, and reminded them of how God led them by a pillar of fire. It’s in this context that Jesus claims, “I am the light of the world”
Light speaks of Jesus’ identity
Jesus is the light of the world. Through Him we see who God is. As ‘light of the world’ He is the only God and the revelation of God to the whole world. All nations and cultures need to come to know Jesus.
Hebrews 1:3 ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…’
John 14:9“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
Light speaks of our salvation
A Christian is someone who has had the ‘lights turned on’. It’s like we’re living in a complete mess but in the dark. Then someone turns the lights on and we see the state of our life. By the Spirit we become aware of our sin, see that Jesus is the Saviour, and that we need Him.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Light speaks of His leading
The Feast of Tabernacles (in part) recalled God leading the people in their wilderness wanderings.
A symbol of the feast was light; four golden lamps were lit in the temple courts (the exact number is disputed) on each evening of the festival except the last night. This recalled the pillar of fire as God led His people in the wilderness.
Exodus 13:21By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Jesus is claiming that these events in the history of Israel were foreshadowing Him. We see that without God’s light leading His people in the desert, they would have been lost. Likewise, anyone who does not invite Christ to be the leader of their lives is wandering around in darkness.
RESPONSE
Jesus is ‘the light of the world’. How do you need to respond to this revelation?
Are we letting Him enlighten our minds with the truth of the bible? Are we living in the light of how He has saved us, or are we allowing darkness to cloud our confidence?
Jesus promises that ‘you will never walk in darkness’. If this is not your experience, how are you failing to embrace or follow Jesus?
FRIDAY – WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS
John 8:12When 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.”
Without Christ, we are in darkness
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we are told that He came to fulfil the Prophecy of Isaiah 9:2,
Matthew 4:16“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Before Christ comes into our lives we are in spiritual darkness. We are separated from God because of our sin; we are rebellious toward Him in our hearts and minds. John writes,
John 3:19-20This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Paul says of those outside of Christ,
Ephesians 4:18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
Whoever follows
As we turn from our old lives and follow Christ, we come out of darkness. Following Christ is synonymous with putting our faith in Him. Those who put their faith in Him come into the light of knowing God, and will never be cast from His presence.
The light of life
Being a Christian is not just a decision; it’s a change of nature. A Christians has the ‘light of life’. A Christian has been made alive by the Holy Spirit.
RESPONSE
This week we have seen
Firstly, that Jesus is the ‘Bread of life’. This speaks of salvation and provision. God saved and provided for the Israelites in the desert. Even though they had sinned and were wandering for forty years, He graciously provided.
Secondly, we have considered what it means when Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world’; Light is symbolic of how Jesus saves, directs and protects us and His church.
How do you need to respond to Jesus being the ‘light of the world’ and ‘bread of life’?
Do you need God to forgive and save you? Do you need God to provide for you? Do you need Him to lead you? Do you need to believe His promise that “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” - If you are a Christian you will never be cast out of His love for you? How will you respond to Jesus?