The being one…
Over recent weeks, we have been exploring the I am sayings
of Jesus in John’s gospel. These seem to deliberately connect with the
divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14
“God said to Moses, ‘I
am who I am’’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I
am has sent me to you.”’
The Hebrew can also be translated as – I will be what I will be.
God essentially exists – always has and always will. He just is – he’s
the being one! In that passage, we also find the title Yahweh
which in Hebrew is very close to I am who I am. The Lord God
indicates that this is how he wants to be known. The name helps us
understand that he is the stable eternal presence in our ever-changing
world.
John begins his Gospel affirming that Jesus was around from the very
beginning – “In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.”
(John 1:1-3). John sets out where he is going with his incredible
literary portrait of Jesus.
Hebrews 13:8
tells us that: “Jesus
Christ is the same
yesterday
and today and for ever.”
Like the Father in heaven, he’s always existed and has now been revealed
in human flesh. Revelation tells us that he is the alpha and omega
(A-Z), the beginning and the end (22:13).
The seven I am sayings all reveal aspects of Jesus’ nature
and ministry. He identifies himself with the divine being and shows
various ways in which he helps people connect with God and find new life
through him. He’s the way, the light, the good shepherd, the bread and
the vine – and he’s the resurrection and the life.
These were outrageous statements and were utterly blasphemous to the
Jews – if they were not true. Jesus is not one choice among many
prophets and religions; he claims to be the unique Son of God who came
to earth to save us – because God loved the world that much.
We are offered new and abundant life through all he has done for us –
living and dying to bring God’s love down to earth and to release us
from the captivity of sin and death. It is put across like a second
Exodus - from slavery to freedom. This is the Good News that John and
the other Gospel writers are so passionate to get across. It is the same
Good News that we continue to carry as lights in the world, taking the
light of Jesus into our communities.
Join me as light-bearers in these exciting couple of months in the lead
up to celebrating Jesus’ birth (I’m not mentioning the “C” word).
Grace and peace,
