Rediscovering Jesus
“The people surrounded (Jesus) and asked, ‘How long are You going to keep us in suspense?
If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’”
John 10:24 (NLT)
John’s Gospel leaves no doubts as to who Jesus claimed to be. In every chapter, John reveals the Deity of Christ. His true identity is clearly seen in the descriptions He has given. John records seven profound I am statements that Jesus made about Himself. The very phrase I am would be understood by the Jews as a declaration of Deity. It was the name God gave Moses of Himself when Moses asked the Lord who he was supposed to tell the children of Israel sent him to deliver them. God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”
Jesus completes that name, I AM… with seven specific descriptions that reveal His Deity.
I am the bread of life (John 6:35)
I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)
I am the gate (John 10:7; 9)
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11; 14)
I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
I am the true vine (John 15:1)
No one ever made such claims! Even if they had, they could never produce the kind of evidence to support such a claim as did Jesus Christ. When His critics surrounded Him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe Me. The proof is the work I do in My Father’s name... Don’t believe Me unless I carry out My Father’s work. But if I do His work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe Me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.” John 10:24-25; 37-38 (NLT) For the next seven blogs, we will examine each of the seven I AM statements that Jesus made and rediscover Jesus so that we may know Him as He is!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.