I Am

(John 6 – 15)

Lee Strobel in his book, The Case for the Real Jesus, addresses questions raised by various present-day organizations and scholars. What are the questions he addresses? I think they are evident in the chapter titles:

Challenge #1 Scholars Are Uncovering a Radically Different Jesus in Ancient Documents Just As Credible As the Four Gospels

Challenge #2 The Bible’s Portrait of Jesus Can’t Be Trusted Because the Church Has Tampered with the Text

Challenge #3 Part 1: New Explanations Have Refuted Jesus’ Resurrection

Part 2: The Cross – Examined

Challenge #4 Christianity’s Beliefs About Jesus Were Copied from Pagan Religions

Challenge #5 Jesus Was An Imposter Who Failed to Fulfill the Messianic Prophecies

Challenge #6 People Should Be Free to Pick and Choose What to Believe About Jesus

Lee Strobel brings light into each of the areas addressed, revealing many of the “current issues” or “new revelations,” which are merely a representation of issues that have been dealt with and answered, in some cases, centuries ago.

Last week (Easter Sunday), while driving to church, I turned on the radio. I hardly ever turn on the radio on a Sunday morning. There were two people discussing Jesus and the events surrounding the Easter event. One of the gentlemen stated, “Jesus died on the cross; but the concept He attempted to instill was that if you love, many will hate and possibly even kill you.” He went on to claim Christ did not rise from the dead; but the philosophical, moral values, and ideals of Jesus are what, in fact, live on, but not Jesus Himself. He classified the resurrection as preposterous. At that moment, I was infuriated, and my blood pressure rose. As I heard this pompous person continue, my thoughts and feelings shifted. I felt sorrow for him, knowing that one day he would stand before Christ and be judged for his words. What a precious gift of grace Christ has given to us. There is no other way to be restored to a right relationship with God. It rekindled a flame within to do what we have been called to do: proclaim the gospel of Christ to a lost world and grow in grace and knowledge, accurately dividing the Word of Truth.

Jesus Christ reveals Himself throughout the pages of the New Testament. We know of His birth, life, death, and resurrection. He repeatedly presents us with a picture, not only of His divine nature wrapped in flesh, but He gives us a glimpse of God Himself. There is no greater question you will be required to answer than: Who is Jesus? For in Him, and in Him alone, lies sanctification, redemption, salvation, and the restoration of those who are His. In detail, Jesus clearly tells us Who He is in the whole of His Word, and today, we will focus on seven “I am” statements of Jesus contained in the Gospel of John. In each of them, Christ leaves no doubt about Who He is.

I AM

John 6:48-15:1

I am

(John 6:48)

I am

(John 8:12)

I am

(John 10:7)

I am

(John 10:14)

I am

(John 11:25)

I am

(John 14:6)

I am

(John 15:1)