Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

When Jesus was just eight days old and newly circumcised, his parents took him to the temple to offer a sacrifice according to the law. Upon entering the temple they meet a man named Simeon, a righteous man who was led to the temple by the Spirit. With the Spirit resting on him he took Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:21-32 ESV) Continue reading →

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 ESV)

Isaiah prophesied, “Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:10-11 ESV) The Lord God came in the form of a man (Jesus Christ) and called himself the good shepherd. Continue reading →

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:7-9 ESV)

When Jesus referred to himself as the door he drew his comparison from the image of a door to a sheepfold. Many of the sheepfolds of Jesus’ day were stone enclosures with thorns and briars placed on the top of the walls. They had an open court where the sheep could sleep. The folds were built to offer protection from thieves and wolves or other predatory animals. Continue reading →

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

The story begins to unfold when the two sisters of Lazarus send word to Jesus that Lazarus is ill. Jesus immediately knew that the illness would not lead to permanent physical death, but that he would be glorified through it. So, he and his disciples wait two days before they leave for Bethany. Upon leaving Jesus said to his disciples, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. (John 11:15 ESV) Jesus purposefully waited for Lazarus to die so that he could raise him from the dead. His motive was so that his disciples would believe him that God sent him; that he was the Son of God and so the Father and the Son would be glorified (John 11:4, 15, 42). Continue reading →

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:4-6 ESV)

We live in a culture where right and wrong have become increasingly subjective. In an effort to make everyone “feel comfortable” absolute truth has been kicked to the curb in lieu of sentimentalism. Subjectivism has not only established a foothold in the world but in the church as well. The Apostle Paul spoke of our day when he wrote, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV) Continue reading →

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:4-6 ESV)

The synoptic gospels agree that “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” was John the Baptist (Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3). John the Baptist understood that he was indeed this “voice” when he answered the question posed to him by priests and Levites from Jerusalem (John 1:23). John’s message was one of baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 1:3). He called on people the repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand (Matthew 1:2) He readily confessed that he was not the Christ (John 1:19, 25) and upon seeing Jesus declared, “Behold, the lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). Continue reading →

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 ESV)

In reading John 6 we see that the time of the Passover was at hand. Passover, also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is celebrated each year by the Jews. The feast is held to commemorate Israel’s exit from Egypt and especially the night God protected them from the plague of the death angel. God commanded the Israelites to eat roasted lamb and unleavened bread on that night along with bitter herbs. It was not by coincidence that Jesus chose the time of this feast to proclaim that he is the Bread of Life. Continue reading →

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”. . . Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:53, 58 ESV)

After Jesus made this statement the religious leaders of his day took up stones to kill him. Why did this claim of Jesus make them so indignant? Who did Jesus claim to be?

The bush burned but was not consumed, so Moses went in for a closer look. God called to Moses from the bush and commanded him to go into Egypt and lead Israel out of bondage. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:13-14 ESV) Continue reading →