I AM
Seven I AM Statements of Jesus
I AM the Vine
April 23, 2023 • Caleb Martinez • John 15:1–5
Most of us know what a life of following Jesus should look and feel like, and yet most of also know we aren’t fully experiencing this life. While we want to be people defined by our fruit of love, joy, and peace, we’re often more acquainted with the bad fruit of anxiety, fear, and idolatry. The simple reason for this is that we haven’t learned how to abide in Jesus. When Jesus compares himself to a vine and calls us his branches in https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%2015, he’s inviting us to live a constant life of redirecting our minds, hearts, and bodies to him. By being in close intimacy and proximity to Jesus, we slowly take on the characteristics of Jesus. And the more characteristics of Jesus we take on, the more fruit we produce. This is the process of abiding.
I AM: Way, Truth, & Life
April 16, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • John 14:1–6
Where we once found hope and meaning outside of ourselves in the church, the city, or the market, today we’re left to create our own hope and meaning from within ourselves. We follow our hearts and feelings, no matter the cost to ourselves and those around us. But where society says choice is now the highest value, tolerance the highest virtue, and denying yourself is the new unforgivable sin, how should Christians respond? What hope does Jesus offer? In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%2014, Jesus makes another countercultural claim about himself: that he alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Each of these statements is a direct counter to the values and virtues of today. Only in Jesus do we have access to God. Only in Jesus do we experience true reality. And only in Jesus can we have life and life to the full. To respond to the way of the world and live in a way congruent with these claims of Jesus, we practice self-denial.
I AM the Resurrection & Life - Easter Sunday
April 9, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • John 11:1–44
John 11 is a story of resurrection. But it isn’t Jesus’ resurrection. Just before he’s handed over to the Roman authorities to be crucified, Jesus brings his friend Lazarus back to life from the grave. In doing so, he demonstrates both his power over death, and his sympathy in the midst of it. This story reminds us of the authority Jesus has over the grave, but it also reminds us of the severity of our sin. Death is the result of our rebellion against God and his Kingdom. Yet despite our guilt, God still heals us. The resurrection of Lazarus points forward to the resurrection of Jesus, and also to our resurrection. The message of Easter is that like Lazarus, we are dead in our sin and broken from the source of life. But also like Lazarus, Jesus forgives us and promises to one day resurrect us too. John 11 CSB
I AM the Good Shepherd
April 2, 2023 • Jay Stovall • John 10:11–18, Ezekiel 34:1–16
In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%2010, Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd.” In doing so, Jesus clams several things about himself. First, it Jesus makes a claim about the character and nature of God. As shepherd of the sheep, Jesus is the one who protects, guides, and nurtures His flock. Secondly, Jesus is a “good” shepherd. The Greek word translated “good” describes something true, wholesome, good, and beautiful. As a good shepherd, Jesus stands against that which is wicked, mean, evil, and unloving. And not only is Jesus good in character, he’s also good in action. His ultimate act of love is to lay down his own life for our own good. Lastly, if Jesus is our shepherd, we are his sheep. Without a shepherd, we’re vulnerable to false teaching and to our own sin. But by communing with Jesus daily, we learn to distinguish his voice and follow his way to life.
I AM the Gate
March 26, 2023 • Caleb Martinez • John 9:1–7, John 10:1–10
Of all the symbols or metaphors Jesus could use to reveal something to us about God, on the surface, “a gate” seems a bit anticlimactic. Despite what we may think, though, Jesus was actually correcting the false ideologies about God that were and are still prevalent today. He reminds us that even in our seasons of suffering God still loves and protects us. He also declares that true life and salvation are attainable, but only through him. And finally, he clarifies that his invitation to true life is on offer for all who are willing to admit that they’re lost.
I AM the Bread of Life
March 12, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • John 6:25–69
At some point, we must face the reality that the things we often chase in this life leave us unsatisfied and wanting more. Achievements, possessions, and desires seem to promise everlasting life but drain the life from us as we cling to them for something they can’t provide. We get caught in a cycle of getting what we want, finding it unsatisfying, and moving on to the next thing. But when Jesus taught the crowds in https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%206 that He is the bread of life, He made the radical claim that He can satisfy in ways that the things of this world cannot. This satisfaction is on offer to all who are willing to take it, but taking it means first yielding our envy and selfish ambition to Jesus. Although submitting these things can be difficult and painful, Jesus offers life that truly satisfies on the other side.
I AM the Light of the World
March 19, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • John 8:1–12
In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%208.12, Jesus claims to be “light” and says that those who follow him will not walk in darkness, but will experience life. While this promise may sound appealing, accepting Jesus as “light” requires us to confront our own darkness first. In the Bible, darkness can refer to our wickedness, ignorance, or tendency to hide our sins. In our wickedness, we love what God hates and hate what God loves. In our ignorance, we remain detached and reactive. And in our hiding, the devil tempts us to keep our sins hidden. However, the good news is that the gospel offers a way out of the darkness. We can overcome our wickedness, ignorance, and hiding by stepping into healing.