Quick Recap of last week…

Who does Jesus say that He is?? Let's look at the "I AM" statements of Jesus and how it relates to us.
The "I AM" statements are found throughout the Gospel of John. (Turn to John 6)
Jesus Says:

1. I AM the Bread of Life
2. I AM the Light of the World
3. I AM the Sheep Gate (the Door)
4. I AM the Good Shepherd
5. I AM the Resurrection and the Life
6. I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life
7. I AM

I AM the Bread of Life – John 6:30-35
(quick look at structure of Jesus' I AM statements)

1. In the Greek when someone says "I am" the word they use is Ego (eg-o') – personality or identity
2. The Greek has another word that means "I am." It's Eimi (i-mee') – to exist
3. Jesus used both when making this statement – Ego Eimi the Bread of life / I AM I AM the Bread of Life
4. Compare to Exodus 3:14 – Greek Translators used same structure

What is Jesus saying about Himself??
Moses didn't give the Mana, but God did. It came down from Heaven. Jesus is saying that He is sent from Heaven, He's the true, life giving Bread.
Jesus makes it clear again in v. 38 where he says "I have come down from Heaven."

I AM the Light of the World – John8:12
In context: Jesus made this statement after the scribes and Pharisees brought out an adulteress and asked Jesus what should be done with her. The brought her out into public, into the light for judgment.
Sinners and the lost are referred to as being in "darkeness"
Isaiah prophetically refers to those who "sat in darkness have seen a great light" referring to the Light of the World.
Throughout the bible, God manifests Himself as a bright and glorious light.
When Moses spoke to God his face reflected God's glory. They even had to put a veil over his face. Paul talks of the Great Light that shone when Jesus appeared on the road to Damascus.
Light reveals the truth and reality about what we see around us.
(ask students the color of an object, then turn the lights out) – the very color of everything we see comes from the light that shines on it. Beauty is found in the light, think of a rainbow.
In Genesis we read about creation and that everything was formless and void (darkness and chaos) then God said let there be LIGHT. Before I was blind, but now I see!!!

I AM the Door – John 10:1-10 (the next two fit closely together)
A sheepfold is a place of security and safety for the sheep. The only way to get into the sheepfold is by the gate. Sheepfolds were often surrounded by stone walls with briars or thorns on top. If someone tried to come into the sheepfold by any other way, there were up to no good.
In Context: Jesus had just healed a man who was blind from birth and the Pharisees had brought the man in for questioning. The man tried telling the Pharisees who Jesus was and they kicked him out. The Pharisees are supposed to be shepherding the "flock", God's people but they didn't even care that one of them was healed of his blindness.
So, when Jesus refers to himself as "The Door" he turns it around and refers to the Pharisee and the religious leaders as thieves and robbers. V. 8 – whoever came before me…
The flock of God has one shepherd and one door. There is only one way into God's sheepfold, that is by Jesus Christ. Our society and culture today try to tell us that there are many ways to god. Who are we to say otherwise?? Even some Christian denominations are trying to be more "open" by saying that Jesus isn't the only way.
However, Jesus tells us that we must come through HIM! He is the only way.
Romans 5:1-2 – We have access to God's grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus is our door, our point of entrance.

I AM the Good Shepherd – John10:11-14
Jesus is our good shepherd. He owns the sheep and is committed to them.

Psalm 23:1-4 – The Rod is a defensive club and the shepherds' Staff had a "crook" on the end to pull the sheep to safety.
A Hireling was someone who was brought on temporarily for work; he didn't have a vested interest in the sheep. At the first sign of trouble, the hireling fled.
Jesus, on the other hand, voluntarily laid down His life for his flock.
The Shepherd knows the sheep and the sheep know, follow and trust the shepherd. There are actual accounts in this country and others of shepherds who know there sheep so well that they can even name them and tell them apart. Jesus said that the sheep know His voice.

John 10:15-18
V. 19-21 – Jesus cares for his flock. He opens their eyes to the Light.
John 21:15-17 – Jesus continues to refer to us as His flock.

Is Jesus the Bread of Life in your life? Is He your Light? Are you trying to go through the wrong door?