Look At The Book!

1. Look At The Book! John Jesus: The Great I Am

2. The Clear Purpose Of John • Gospel of John has the most clearly stated purpose statement. • John 20:30-31 – “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

3. Faith In Jesus • Belief in Jesus as the Christ • And as the Son of God • To have LIFE in His name. • No life without faith in Jesus • No life without accepting and confessing Him as God’s only Son • Gospel of John is a faith-building gospel.

4. Nine I AM Statements In John • Today, let’s consider NINE statements made by Jesus during His earthly ministry intended to help us comprehend His deity and Sonship. • Each of these statements contains the combination of two Greek words: EGO EIMI – translated simply as I AM! • Jesus is the great I AM and speaks these phrases to help us understand that God became flesh and walked amongst us.

5. I. Jesus As The Christ • First of the phrases spoken by Jesus was to a Samaritan woman by a well in Samaria. • John 4:25-26 – “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

6. Could This Be The Christ? • ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ λαλῶν σοι • EGO EIMI HO LALON SOI • “I, I Am the speaking to you” • Jesus affirmed that He, and only He, was the Christ, the Messiah.

7. How Did The Samaritans Respond? • John 4:42, “…and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.’”

8. II. I Am The Bread Of Life • John 6:35, 48: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst….I am the bread of life.” • ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς· • EGO EIMI HO ARTOS TES ZOES

9. Following A Great Miracle • Next day from the feeding of the multitude of 5,000 men plus women and children. • They’d eaten of the loaves and were filled. • Jesus demonstrates that He is true food and true drink. • V. 33 – “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”

10. How Did The Jews Respond? • John 6:41, 66 – “Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread that came down out of heaven.’….As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” • They understood that Jesus must be our sustenance or we will have no life.

11. III. I Am The Light Of The World • John 8:12, 9:5 – “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life…. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” • ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου· • EGO EIMI TO PHOS TOU KOSMOU • The light of the COSMOS!

12. What Led To The Statement? • Jews bring Jesus a woman caught in adultery, and throw her at His feet. • Spoken just before the healing of a man born blind. • They were blind leaders of the blind and needed the light Jesus could give. • He is the one with true light. True guidance. He is the source of truth, holiness, and purity. • Those qualities are compared to LIGHT.

13. But They Did Not Believe • Accused Jesus of self-testimony • Did not believe Jesus to be who He said He was. • 8:24: “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

14. IV. I AM • John 8:58 – “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” • πρὶν ᾿Αβραὰμ γενέσθαι ἐγὼ εἰμί. • PRIN ABRAHAM GENESTHAI EGO EIMI

15. They Accused Him Of Having A Demon • He told them they had to believe in Him or they would have no life in themselves. • They said, “Surely you are not greater than our father Abraham…?” • After Jesus claimed to be I Am, “Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.” (V. 59).

16. V. I Am The Door Of The Sheep • John 10:7 – “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” • ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ θύρα τῶν προβάτων • HUMIN HOTI EGO EIMI E THURA TON PROBATON

17. Addressing Blind Pretenders • Jesus told the parable of the Good Shepherd to condemn the Jewish leaders for their blind folly. They were hirelings and cared not for the sheep. • Jesus offers Himself as the only means into the safety of the fold. He, and only He, is the door, the gate into eternal life.

18. Dividing Of The Listeners • John 10:19-20 • Some said, “He has a demon and is insane.” • Others: “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed.” • Also, “A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?” • Most assuredly NOT!

19. VI. I Am The Good Shepherd • John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” • ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός. • EGO EIMI HO POIMEN HO KALOS • As compared to the twisted holiness of the Jews, which confused and condemned the sheep, Jesus was the GOOD SHEPHERD.

20. What Makes The Good Shepherd Good? • The fact that He dies to save His sheep. • Speaks of willing self-sacrifice to redeem His lost sheep. • Genuine love for the sheep.

21. VII. I Am The Resurrection and the Life • John 11:25 -- “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies….” • ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή • EGO EIMI HE ANASTASIS KAI HE ZOE • Life even after death?

22. Raising Lazarus From The Dead • Words spoken to Martha as she grieved the death of her brother Lazarus. • Jesus letting her know that He had the power over death – eternal resurrection power. • What did the Jews think? • Vs. 37 – “…Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”

23. The Result Of The Miracle • Vs. 45: “Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.” Others, though, plotted to kill Him and Lazarus. (John 12:10) John 12:17 – “So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out to the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.”

24. VIII. I Am The Way, Truth, Life • John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” • ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· • EGO EIMI HE HODOS KAI HE ALETHEIA KAI HE ZOE

25. Spoken At The Last Supper • Just before going to Gethsemane • Jesus makes it plain that He is going to die on the cross. • He is the only way, the only truth, and the only means of obtaining eternal life. • NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM!

26. IX. I Am The True Vine • John 15:1 -- “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” • ᾿Εγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή • EGO EIMI HE AMPELOS HE ALETHINE • Also spoken during the last supper.

27. Of Vines, Branches, Pruning, and Fire • Branches must produce fruit. • Cannot do so unless they are tied in the Christ. • Must Abide in Him. • If we truly abide in Him we will bear much fruit. • We cannot be ambivalent concerning Christ. We either have faith or we are lost. He is the only way, truth, life, nourishment, direction, Savior, and Lord that we have.

28. Do You Believe? • Jesus claimed, and supported His claim to be the Christ. • He showed power which could only come from heaven. • He claimed to be God made flesh. He proved that claim. • He claimed to be the only way into heaven.Do you believe?