The “I AM” sayings of Jesus
As we begin 2021 and live through lockdown 3, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus - our true source of hope for the future.
But who is Jesus - who does he say he is? It matters, because who he is impacts who we are in him.
Over the next six weeks we will be looking at John's gospel and Jesus' "I am" sayings.
YAHWEH
Here is a useful video from the Bible Project which explains God's name YAHWEH which means "I AM WHO I AM" or "I will be who I will be".
As we will see in our sermon series, John draws heavily from the Old Testament in his gospel.
Lesson 1: I AM: The Bread of Life
Jesus reveals to us through accessible images who the great 'I AM' is (that's God's Old Testament name). Indeed John wants us to see here is God in our midst. What does it all mean for our lives?
Bible Readings: (Click to Read)
Lesson 2: I AM: The Light of the World
Life feels quite bleak and dark at the moment. Into that darkness, Jesus declares "I am the light of the world". What does it mean for him to be the light that dispels the darkness? How do we live in his light?
Revd. Susie Templeton, curate at Emmanuel Church, is preaching for us today in the second of our sermon series in John's gospel and Jesus' 'I am' sayings.
Bible Readings: (Click to Read)
Lesson 3: I AM: The Good Shepherd
After another difficult week of lockdown, we long for God's comfort, his care and reassurance. In today's service we hear Jesus' words of comfort from John 10 as he says "I am the good shepherd". He says "my sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand" (v27-28).
What does it look like to trust in Jesus as our good shepherd as individuals and as a church?
Bible Readings: (Click to Read)
Lesson 4: I AM: The True Vine
Our worship today is an All Age service, suitable for our whole church family. We are continuing in our "I Am" series looking at what Jesus means when he says "I am the true vine" in John 15: 1-8.
Bible Readings: (Click to Read)
Lesson 5: I AM: The Way, The Truth & The Life
Today we come to the most well known of Jesus' "I am" sayings: "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
We often struggle with this declaration as it seems so arrogant in our pluralist society. Why and how can Jesus claim to be the only way to the Father? It is important that we understand and love these words again, for the sake of others and ourselves, because they are the source of all joy and hope for this life and the next. They speak of self-sacrificial love and self-denial and provide answers to the biggest questions of life.
Bible Readings: (Click to Read)
Lesson 6: I AM: The Resurrection & The Life
In the final "I am" saying in our sermon series, we look at what Jesus means when he says "I am the resurrection and the life".
Lesslie Newbigin writes "Resurrection is no longer a mere doctrine: it has a living face and a name. Jesus is himself the presence of the life which is God's gift beyond death". Rev Susie Templeton, Curate at Emmanuel Church, is preaching for us today as we look at Jesus as he weeps at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. Jesus is the one who knows and shares our pain and yet dies to give us life. He alone brings us hope for life beyond the grave.
Bible Readings: (Click to Read)