Have you ever tried to describe a close friend to someone who has never met them?  It’s hard!  How do you put into words what’s special to you about them, who they are?  Perhaps you can’t, but you try anyway.  Describing Jesus?  Impossible!  Yet, God is revealed to us in the person of Jesus, so we continue to try.  Jesus gave us some help, though.  Jesus gave us nine “I Am” statements to think about:

John 6: 35, 48 I am the bread of life 

John 8: 12, 9:5 I am the light of the world 

John 8: 58 Before Abraham was, I am 

John 10:9 I am the door 

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd 

John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life 

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life 

John 15:1 I am the true vine 

Revelation 1:8 & 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega

Perhaps pointing out what Jesus did not claim to be might shed some light on who he is.  Jesus did NOT say: I am death, I am darkness, I am a brick wall, I am deceit, or I am like a lily– here today and gone tomorrow.  All of the things Jesus says he is are GOOD and lasting things.  Likewise, the God revealed to us in the person of Jesus is Good.  Our God is faithful, loving, merciful, and trustworthy.  Truly, though, we learn more about Jesus and God through the stories of their actions passed on to us and future generations.  Stories from other people and, yes, the collection of stories we receive in the Bible.  Read John 8, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8