I Am the Light of the World

This is the manuscript of the third sermon in a series titled "The Adequacy of Jesus Christ", which is a study of the seven ‘I am' sayings of Jesus found in the gospel of John.

In his gospel John consistently shows the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

As God promised to be adequate to meet the needs of Moses and the children of Israel, so Jesus also claimed divine adequacy.

In his gospel John consistently shows the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

John 8:12 NIV When 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.”

The world of “light” can be divided into artificial light and natural light. Artificial light derives its energy from a manufactured source; lightbulbs, flashlights, lanterns, lamps, and heaters are powered by various energy sources. Some natural lights are our sun, stars, and lightning. Their light sources are found within themselves.

Artificial and natural light can also both be found in the spiritual world. Many kinds of artificial spiritual light have their source in something other than themselves.

We live in a world of artificiality. We have soft drinks with artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners. We are surrounded by synthetic fabrics, synthetic rubber, and even synthetic diamonds. In a world of false, fake, and make-believe, we need a true standard. Christ is that true standard.

Listen to an audio recording of the sermon by clicking on the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

You can also watch a video recording of the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/CWG96yTHvC4

Visit the Christ Church website at christchurchlosangeles.org.

Scripture 

John 1:1‭-‬13 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Introduction

This is the third in “The Adequacy of Christ” series of sermons.  The series covers the seven ‘I am' sayings of Jesus found in the gospel of John.  In his gospel John consistently shows the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

As God promised to be adequate to meet the needs of Moses and the children of Israel, so Jesus also claimed divine adequacy, man.

As John listened to Jesus’ teachings, he sensed a significant parallelism between God’s announcement of his name to Moses and Jesus’ repeated announcements about his person in the “I am” statements. 

Here God’s an announcement to Moses;

Exodus 3:13‭-‬14 NIV 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.’ ”

Jesus' statement that He is the "bread of life" which we examined last week was the first of the I Am pronouncements Jesus.  

Today we are going to take a look at the second one.  It's in our text for today.

Text: 

John 8:12 NIV When 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.”

The world of “light” can be divided into artificial light and natural light. Artificial light derives its energy from a manufactured source; lightbulbs, flashlights, lanterns, lamps, and heaters are powered by various energy sources. Some natural lights are our sun, stars, and  lightning. Their light sources are found within themselves.

Artificial and natural light can also both be found in the spiritual world. Many kinds of artificial spiritual light have their source in something other than themselves.

2 Corinthians 11:12‭-‬15 NIV And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Jesus dispels the darkness of artificiality.

We live in a world of artificiality. 

We have soft drinks with artificial color, artificial flavor, and artificial sweeteners. We are surrounded by synthetic fabrics, synthetic rubber, and even synthetic diamonds. In a world of false, fake, and make-believe, we need a true standard. 

Christ is that true standard. 

Often artificial light gives off a certain hue. For instance, incandescent light gives off a yellow tint and fluorescent light gives off a blue tint.  True color tones are revealed when they are exposed to sunlight. Sunlight, however, is a white light, and colors are evenly beautiful under its glow. Everything looks different in the brilliance of sunlight. 

There is only one natural spiritual Light, which has its own source of energy. That Light is Jesus, and his light dispels darkness.

Have you ever noticed that light brings change? 

Did you know that once you’re in a room that is completely dark, I mean pitch black dark, the room cannot get any darker. However, if you’re in a lighted room, it can always get brighter and brighter. Ever notice that when you have a simple night-light, this little bulb can really illuminate a room. 

That’s the very nature of light. . . to bring change to any given situation. Change, however, is almost a nasty topic. Wherever you work, wherever you go to school, even in the church, change is a hot topic. Yet, in order to grow and mature, we must change, otherwise we remain stagnant and ultimately die.

Look at our text again;

John 8:12 NIV When 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.”

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Just imagine the LIGHT that is available through Him. 

In order to understand why Jesus said He is the Light of the World, and the impact of that statem, we need to understand the context in which He said it. 

John 7:1‭-‬13 NIV After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

When you have some time read the rest of Chapter 7 and also Chapter 8  but for the sake of time I am going to read just our text again. 

John 8:12 NIV When 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.”

So you see this proclamation was made one day after the Feast of Tabernacles had concluded. Tabernacles was a 7 day long festival celebrated by the Jews that was inaugurated by God to help the Israelites remember that for 40 years they wandered in the wilderness before they finally entered the Promised Land

Leviticus 23:34‭-‬36 NIV “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

During the Feast the entire nation camped out in booths. They were made of branches and leaves to remind the people of the hardships their ancestors endured in the wilderness. People would eat their meals in them, and some people would eat and sleep in them. 

 

The Feast of Tabernacles was a happy, joyous holiday as the Israelites would dance and sing, remembering God’s glory among them, as God traveled as a cloud during the day and fire at night. 

Exodus 13:21‭-‬22 NIV By 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. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

The celebration also focused on the promise of God sending a light, the Anointed One, the Messiah, who would free them from bondage.

Sacrifices were offered and Scriptures like this one from Isaiah were read:

Isaiah 9:2 NIV The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

In ancient Israel, at the time that Jesus was on the earth, the Priests would take 4 large candelabras, each containing 4 bowls of oil. These 16 golden bowls were placed high up in the Temple. The candles would be lit each night and it was believed all Jerusalem was illuminated from these candles. Remember, in those days, they didn’t have street lights.

On the final night of the festival the candelabras were extinguished and there was darkness. The lights were extinguished because God had not yet sent the Messiah; so the Temple grew dark. The booths are torn down. 

With this as the backdrop the next morning Jesus enters the Temple, He’s surrounded by people, and stands up and declares He is the Messiah, by saying 

John 8:12 NIV…“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Imagine the scene! In the very court where the lighting ceremony took place, Jesus stands beneath the 16 UNLIT bowls of oil and says He is the light of the whole world.

Now that’s a great history lesson, but what does all of this mean for us today?

We must seek the Light and follow the Light, Jesus. If Jesus is the light of the world, it means we should never have to walk in darkness again. Jesus is THE only way to God. He is the only way to living a life that is filled with peace and strength; grace and courage; love and mercy; forgiveness and power. 

It means we must believe Jesus is who He said He is. 

The Pharisees didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah. They wanted someone to be in their image, not in God’s image. 

John 7:37‭-‬44 NIV On 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.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

Jesus knew who He was and He knew where He came from, but they couldn’t accept that.

Colossians 1:15‭-‬20 NIV The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Today there’s a need for Light in our world. We live in a world filled with darkness because everyone is choosing their own god and even if it’s Jesus, they make Jesus into what they want Him to be.

Jesus calls us to accept Him as our Savior, as the Light of our world. But He doesn’t stop there, Jesus calls you and  me to join Him and be a light to the world. 

The word “LIGHT” can be both a noun and a verb - in other words, “We are not only to BE the light but we should also SHINE the light.”

Here's what Jesus said in His Sermon on the mount;

Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Here's that same scripture in The Message  Bible paraphrase 

Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 MSG “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Jesus proclaims He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, but amazingly, wonderfully, God also considers you and me to be the Light of the World.

If we are the Light of the World, then why . . . why would any of us choose to live in darkness?

Yet, it’s a choice we make every time we make a decision, every time we make a comment, every time we gossip, every time we do anything that is contrary to being light. It’s a choice. And that choice is yours and mine to make. Do you choose to be a light to the world, or will you choose the dark side, like Dark Vader of Star Wars, and live in darkness.

Darkness is a lot of things. It can be rage and anger; addictions, control; bitterness and unforgiveness; pride and arrogance; or you pick any sin which speaks to you. God always gives us options, always. I realize that choosing the light is more difficult than choosing the darkness, because to live in His light, means we must change our ways, our thoughts, our desires. And that’s never easy - - but it leads to the fruitful, joy-filled life.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Philippians 4:8 NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

It’s all about giving glory to God and living in such a manner that others come to know God, because of you. Because you stand on a hill and let your light SHINE!

So, how do we let our light shine? Every person who believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, who believes He is the One who has led you to life change, should reflect the life of Jesus. We should be the very real representation of Jesus wherever we go. We’re to be the ones who reflect His light. 

Have you ever seen a breathtaking picture of the moon? Yet you do realize that the moon gives off absolutely no light of its own. The moon, which is a dark mass, can be so amazingly beautiful and powerful at the same time, because the moon reflects the light of the sun. Our job is to reflect the light of God’s Son. Just like the moon, which on its own has no light, on our own we have no light either 

When we’re out in the world, we’re supposed to reflect the power and glory of God. Everything we do becomes a reflection of our experience of God’s love. When we are rude, arrogant, gossips, prideful, controlling, bitter, joyless people we aren’t reflecting Christ’s love.

Eastern religions, false prophets, counterfeit Christianity, and humanitarian enterprises are artificial substitutes for a personal walk with Jesus Christ. They offer a “light”, but it is manmade. The are shown to be artificial light when they are exposed to the light of Jesus Christ.

Jesus offers true light to a world walking in shadows and darkness. He exposes artificial light as being inferior. He dispels sin and leaves no room for it in a person’s life. He adds zest for living by giving us hope in our darkest hours.

Sermon Audio

I Am The Bread of Life

Click below for the manuscript of the second sermon in a series titled "The Adequacy of Jesus Christ", which is a study of the seven ‘I am' sayings of Jesus found in the gospel of John.

In his gospel John consistently shows the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

As God promised to be adequate to meet the needs of Moses and the children of Israel, so Jesus also claimed divine adequacy.

In today's sermon we examine Jesus' statement that He is the "bread of life" is the first of the I Am statements of Jesus.

John 6:35 NIV Then 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.

"I am the bread of life", is a phenomenal statement! First, by equating Himself with bread, Jesus is saying he is essential for life. Second, the life Jesus is referring to is not physical life, but eternal life. When He referred to Himself as the “bread of life” Jesus is trying to get the Jews that He was talking to thinking not of the physical realm but the spiritual realm. He is contrasting what He brings as their Messiah with the bread He miraculously created the day before. That was physical bread that perishes. He is spiritual bread that brings eternal life.

Listen to an audio recording of the sermon by clicking on the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

You can also watch a video recording of the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel  https://youtu.be/OW6P3c0ATlU

Visit the Christ Church website at christchurchlosangeles.org.

Scripture Reading

John 6:25‭-‬35 NIV When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do 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.” So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus 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.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then 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.

Introduction

This is the second in the Advocacy of Christ series of sermons. The series covers the seven ‘I am' sayings of Jesus found in the gospel of John. In his gospel John consistently shows the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

As God promised to be adequate to meet the needs of Moses and the children of Israel, so Jesus also claimed divine adequacy, man.

As John listened to Jesus’ teachings, he sensed a significant parallelism between God’s announcement of his name to Moses and Jesus’ repeated announcements about his person in the “I am” statements. 

Jesus' statement that He is the "bread of life" is the first of the I Am statements of Jesus.

Text

John 6:35 NIV Then 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.

In saying “I am” the bread of life Jesus is making a claim to deity. This is the first of the “I AM” statements in John’s Gospel. The phrase “I AM” is the covenant name of God (Yahweh, or YHWH), revealed to Moses at the burning bush

Exodus 3:13‭-‬14 NIV 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.’ ”

I AM is the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else. His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances. He promises that He will be what He will be; He will be the eternally constant God. He stands, ever-present and unchangeable, completely sufficient in Himself to do what He wills to do and to accomplish what He wills to accomplish.

There was a commercial bakery located not far from a college campus. The aroma of freshly baked bread could be smelled for blocks. It had a mouth- watering effect, and the company made the most of it by opening a cafe where customers could buy warm, fresh bread and other baked goods and sit and enjoy them with a cup of coffee or juice. College students liked to visit the cafe because it was an inexpensive place to take a date or to hang out with friends. 

As wonderful as freshly baked bread is, Jesus offers something even greater.

Jesus begins the “I am” statements in John by declaring, “I am the bread of life.” Now he made this statement after his feeding of the five thousand, in John 6:1-13, where He fed a crowd of more than 5,000 people with 2 small fish and five small loaves of bread.

He accuses this crowd of ignoring His miraculous signs and only following Him for the “free meal.” 

John 6:26 NIV Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

Then He encouraged the people not only to seek food for the body, but to seek food that can satisfy their souls.

John 6:35 NIV Then 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 used a metaphor here that we can readily understand. In this text he speaks of how He can satisfy, He is sufficient, and He provides salvation.

Jesús offers bread that can satisfy.

Bread is considered a staple food. A person can survive a long time on only bread and water. Bread is such a basic food item that it becomes synonymous for food in general. We even use the phrase “breaking bread together” to indicate the sharing of a meal with someone. 

At the same time hunger is one of humanity’s basic drives. 

What starts as a mild discomfort progresses quickly to become a compelling need.

Vast numbers in the world are hungry. 

The literal lack of food is frequently flashed before us on our television screens and the internet. Emaciated bodies with hollow, hungry eyes stare blankly at us. You can't help but make an analogy with the spiritual hunger that is equally evident in this world. We've moved to compassion for physically hungry souls, but too often we are not as concerned about their spiritual hunger.

You see hunger refers to more than just a need for physical food. Hunger is a craving and desire for anything. For example, you can be hungry for affection or for power. 

Jesus can satisfy the spiritual void in a person’s life. 

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” In other words, He feeds life. He provides the banquet of life. He offers life beyond death, joy beyond sorrow, hope beyond disappointment, and companionship beyond loneliness.

 "I am the bread of life", is a phenomenal statement! First, by equating Himself with bread, Jesus is saying he is essential for life. Second, the life Jesus is referring to is not physical life, but eternal life. When He referred to Himself as the “bread of life” Jesus is trying to get the Jews that He was talking to thinking not of the physical realm but the spiritual realm. He is contrasting what He brings as their Messiah with the bread He miraculously created the day before, when He fed more than 5000 people. That was physical bread that perishes. He is spiritual bread that brings eternal life.

As "the bread of life" Jesus offers bread that is sufficient.

Christ is not a superficial solution to hunger.

Exodus 16:14‭-‬20 NIV When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’ ” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

The bread or manna that Moses offered was sufficient only for the day it was gathered, except on the Sabbath, when they were to gather manna for 2 days. There was always enough for one day and two days on the Sabbath, but it had to be gathered each day.  

What Jesus offered as the bread of life was an ongoing supply that never runs out.  

John 6:30‭-‬31 NIV So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 

John 6:32‭-‬35 NIV Jesus 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.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then 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.

Let’s take a look at the words “hungry and thirsty, Jesus isn’t talking about alleviating physical hunger and thirst. The key to what He was talking about is found in another statement Jesus made, back in His Sermon on the Mount. 

Matthew 5:6 NIV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

When Jesus says those who come to Him will never hunger and those who believe in Him will never thirst, He is saying He will satisfy our hunger and thirst to be made righteous in the sight of God.

He provides enough “bread” for all of mankind kind, and each person receives an equal portion. Not only is there room at the banquet for everyone, but there is also enough to satisfy each person’s hunger. Some people are filled more quickly and easily than others, but Jesus invites each one to come to his table and to eat the abundant spiritual food he has provided.

I have said many times that salvation is available to everyone but not everyone will accept the gift. 

The “bread” Jesus offers is like the manna in the wilderness in that they both come from heaven. 

John 6:32‭-‬33 NIV Jesus 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.”

The “bread” of Moses was temporary. It stopped when the Israelites reached Canaan. 

Joshua 5:10‭-‬12 NIV On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

Those who heard Jesus say this asked him to give them the bread He was talking about.

John 6:34 NIV “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.”

John 6:35 NIV Then 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

The Bread of Life is eternal. Jesus was saying that he is the gift of life.

Conclusion

The aroma of freshly baked bread lured the college students to the bakery I mentioned earlier. It was always a scene of laughter and anticipation of something good. Likewise, Jesus provides a banquet here and now that draws people who hunger for truth and meaning in life. Jesus wants us to be satisfied, to have sufficient supply for our needs, and to have salvation.

If there is anything the history of human religion tells us, it is that people seek to earn their way to heaven. This is such a basic human desire because God created us with eternity in mind. The Bible says God has placed [the desire for] eternity in our hearts. The Bible also tells us that there is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven because we’ve all sinned nd the only thing our sin earns us is death. 

Romans 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The dilemma is we have a desire we cannot fulfill, no matter what we do. That is where Jesus comes in. He, and He alone, can fulfill that desire in our hearts for righteousness. When Christ died on the cross, He took the sins of mankind upon Himself and made atonement for them. When we place our faith in Him, our sins are imputed, or assigned, to Jesus, and His righteousness is imputed, or assigned to us. Jesus satisfies our hunger and thirst for righteousness. 

He is our Bread of Life.

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

The Great I Am

This is the manuscript of the first sermon in a series titled  "The Adequacy of Jesus Christ". In this series we will examine the seven "I am" sayings of Jesus as recorded in the gospel of John. John writes to provoke faith in Jesus, resulting in eternal life.  John is likely writing both to call unbelievers to faith in Jesus and to provide confidence for those believers who are struggling in their faith.

John almost seems intent on writing to convince the reader that Jesus Christ is divine, that He is the incarnate God-Man, and that He is both God and Man.  As such, He is the only One who can take away the sins of humanity.

As we will see, in this series, John constantly demonstrated a keen awareness of the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

To gain the full significance of John’s gospel account, we must go back to that burning bush at Sinai and examine the great I Am who revealed himself to Moses. So we begin this series by looking back as God revealed Himself to Moses as "I am who I am"

The text is Exodus 3:14 NIV “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’”

Listen to an audio recording of the sermon by clicking on the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.

You can also watch a video recording of the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/2BwnY9ADxQ0

Visit the Christ Church website at christchurchlosangeles.org.

Scripture 

Exodus 3:7‭-‬15 NIV The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” 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.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

Text: 

“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’” (Exod. 3:14 NIV).

Introduction

Today’s message is an introduction to a study of the seven ‘I am' sayings of Jesus found in the gospel of John.  As we will see, John constantly demonstrated a keen awareness of the relationship between the revelation of God in the Old Testament and the revelation of Jesus as God in the New Testament era.

As God promised to be adequate to meet the needs of Moses and the children of Israel, so Jesus also claimed divine adequacy. 

As John listened to Jesus’ teachings, he sensed a significant parallelism between God’s announcement of his name to Moses and Jesus’ repeated announcements about his person in the “I am” statements. 

To gain the full significance of John’s gospel account, we must go back to that burning bush at Sinai and examine the great I Am who revealed himself to Moses.

Moses was startled when the Lord announced to him that he had chosen him to go to Pharaoh and secure the release of his people.

Exodus 3:1‭-‬4‭, ‬9-10 NIV Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 

Exodus 3:9‭-‬10 NIV And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

After God told him that he was chosen to secure the release of the Isrealites, Moses immediately began making excuses, one of which was, 

Exodus 3:13 NIV 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 wha shall I tell them?”

Here’s God’s reply to that question and excuse

Exodus 3:14 NIV 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.’ ”

God’s reply implied, “I am the God of the past, the present, and the future.”

I am the God of the present.

The phrase translated “I am in Hebrew is ehyeh.  when used as a stand-alone description,I AM is the ultimate statement of self-sufficiency, self-existence, and immediate presence. God’s existence is not contingent upon anyone else. His plans are not contingent upon any circumstances. He promises that He will be what He will be; that is, He will be the eternally constant God. He stands, ever-present and unchangeable, completely sufficient in Himself to do what He wills to do and to accomplish what He wills to accomplish.  He told Moses, “I am who I am.”

God was saying to Moses, “I am the God of right now.” He was assuring Moses of his continued presence as he carried his assessment.

People often look only at their own abilities when God calls them to a particular responsibility. God is saying to Moses what Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 28:20:

Matthew 28:19‭-‬20 NIV Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It is important to know that in Moses’ day a person’s name was the identification of his or her character. By allowing someone to use your name you would be giving them the right to use your power or influence. So, God was giving to Moses the power to call his name in prayer, proclamation, and prophecy.  

God wanted Moses to go and tell the Israelites that he is a very present help.  God told Moses and all succeeding generations that he is “the God of the present.”

Jesus did the same thing before He gave Himself over to be sacrificed for humanity, He said in John 

John 16:22‭-‬24 NIV So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

God is always available to his people. He is not locked in the past with what used to be; nor is he so preoccupied with the future He is a help here and now.

Psalms 46:1‭-‬3 NIV God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

He is God of the present but He is also the God of the past.

Exodus 3:15 NIV God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.

God wanted his people to know that he was the same God who led, blessed, and made covenants with their forefathers.  This identification of God as the God of your fathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would cause the Israelites to remember and raise the expectations of the promises made to their forefathers. 

The covenant was first made with Abraham.

Genesis 12:1‭-‬3 NIV The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:8 NIV The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

He renewed the covenant with Isaac

Genesis 26:1‭-‬5 NIV Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”

He renewed the covenant again with Jacob and later changed his name.  Jacob became known as Israel, “prince of God.”

Genesis 28:11‭-‬15 NIV When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 32:27‭-‬28 NIV The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

So God’s name also meant that he is the God of the past.

When God said "am who I am",God was saying I am God of the present, the past and I am the God of the future. 

Earlier it was mentioned that the Hebrew word God used as his name was ’ehyeh.  That the word can also be translated as “I will be who I will be.”

At any time in the near or distant future, God will still be God.

God was telling Moses that he was not only here now, but that Moses, the people of Israel, and their descendants could always count on God being with them.

God is not bound by time. Whatever promises he has made in the past will be kept in the future. Even if the generation of Moses is not present to see the fulfillment of a promise, the people can be sure that God will always and forever be present to keep his word.

God comes to us today to let us know that he will be present tomorrow, and tomorrow after that, and tomorrow forever.

The writer of Hebrews said this;

Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Conclusion

God said to Moses what he says to us today: “I am the God of the past.”  Even though you were not perfect, I still worked with you, loved you, and saved you.

“I am also the God of the present.” I am not locked in an ancient book, tradition, or history. What I did for Moses, I can and want to do for you today. I want to be your God, and I want you to be my people.

Finally, “I am the God of the future.” I am going before you. I will not change. I will keep my promises to you because I will be with you tomorrow and forever.

God is the only One who can accurately describe Himself as “I AM.”.  John in his gospel wanted to be sure that his readers knew that Jesus was that great I AM.

John 8:58 NIV “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Let's pray,

God, thank you for your presence with us. You promise to never leave us or forsake us. Even on days that are long and leave us feeling weary and empty, we know that you have not left us. On the days when our circumstances have consumed us, you hold us. You are with us and will not let us go.

Thank you that you are walking beside us showing us the many , ways that You are present. You are the great I AM.  the God who walks with us.

Amen.

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