John, in his Gospel, emphasizes the seven I AM statements of Jesus.
The fifth, “I am the resurrection and the life. . . ." John 11:25-26 NIV
Jesus' friends were in need. John tells us that Jesus loved them so He waited to go to them. I've read this dozens of times, but this time, the word so jumped off the page. I never saw it before. Oh how one little word can change everything. Jesus deliberately waited. Let me tell you, for a girl who suffers with chronic insomnia, and who's prayed hundreds of times to fall asleep, this little word breathes new life into me and I hope it does you too.
We know that Jesus is never aloof, so why did He wait?
See my last post, I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, John 11:1-42
Jesus' next I AM statement comes off the heels of what He knew would be His last meal with His disciples (John 13). There was much for Him to say. Isn't there just something about being around a table together that brings out our most cherished, important and intimate conversations?
This meal, though, went far beyond just words. Jesus would model true humility by washing His disciples feet. It seems like a strange thing to do doesn't it? Not really, not for back then. As far as feet go, in those days, the combination of sandals and dusty roads were a recipe for dirty (smelly) feet. Furthermore, from a heart perspective, beginning with the dawn of time, until this very day, true humility is extremely rare and does not come naturally to mankind.
How many of us actually practice humility? It's a humbling question isn't it? It is for me. I mean let's be real, the human heart is not exactly a breeding ground for humility. If we're honest, we'd have to admit that the one we think about the most is ourselves; far more than we think about anyone else.
When Jesus was finished washing their feet, He said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet." (vs13:14). “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (vs34).
It's a divine kind of love; a self-sacrificing one. Truthfully, it can only come from Jesus in you to another. But, imagine it for a moment. This is what God intended, but sin, instead, got in the way. I'm not even sure we can fully grasp what Jesus was saying. Considering what they were about to hear, He knew it would take full surrender to Him and a humbled heart to be able to move forward.
Jesus told them many more things they did not understand. "One of you will betray Me. "Another (all of you really) will deny Me." And "I am going away, and you can not come with me." I'm sure they were freaking out on the inside!
[Jesus continued], "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." John 14:1 NKJV
Have you ever felt like you were drowning in your circumstances? It's incredibly difficult when we don't understand what God is doing in our lives. I was recently reminded of a painful time for me. Be it 30 years ago, the feelings of desperation and defeat came flooding back as I remembered trying to find something, anything to fix the broken places inside of me. My first thought, "I wish I knew Jesus back then." But, the reality is, I wanted nothing to do with Him. Yet this particular reminder awakened memories of His pursuit; God never stopped pursuing me. He wasted nothing, including my dumb decisions. He used every last one of them to reveal His Son to me, to draw me to Himself, and to equip me for His purpose.
God has given each of us a purpose and provided everything we need to accomplish His will (Heb 13:21). I believe He uses every circumstance as a training ground for what He has planned for us to do; here, and into eternity. Oh that we would seek Him and surrender to His leading.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4 NIV
Solomon, who had all the riches and wisdom the world had to offer, said that it was all meaningless—like chasing the wind. Have you ever felt like you were chasing the wind? I have, and haven't we all tried in one form or another to use it to fill ourselves?
Our lives are but a blip compared to eternity; yet for some reason we believe that this is all there is. But it's not, it's a blip, and it's fleeting. Jesus is preparing a place for those who belong to Him. When it's ready—and when we’re ready—He's coming back to get us.
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” John 14:2-5 NIV
Now, here comes one of those radical statements of Jesus—
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7 NIV
Adam's sin brought death, but God provides grace and forgiveness to many through Jesus Christ (Rom 5:15). Jesus came to do the work of the Father (Luke 2:49). He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Yes, it's completely a gift, but there is a catch. You must first know you're a sinner in need of a Savior, in order for the Savior to become your Savior. On our own, there is no way to make ourselves right with God. But God promises to bring righteousness to us in Christ. This is amazing grace!
". . . . and I will place salvation in Zion. . . ." (Isaiah 46:13)
Jesus is the Bread of Life. The Light of the World. The Gate and The Good Shepherd. The Resurrection and the Life. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. He came to ransom you. He offers life in the place of death; then, now, and into eternity.
I will close by asking you to consider what eternity would look like without the mercy of God who sent His Son to die for you.
God made a way to Him; and so the question remains, "Do you believe this?"
(Stay tuned for Jesus' last of the seven I AM statements, "I am the vine")
Comments