Christine completes the last in our series of the I AM sayings of Jesus - 'I am the True Vine'. Key to fruitful discipleship is our 'abiding' in Jesus. The word literally implies 'our habitual place of dwelling - our true home'. Only in tis beautiful relationship can we produce anything in terms of Kingdom fruitfulness.
This saying of Jesus contains the whole Gospel; it is a keystone text to understanding all that Jesus came to do, all that He is to us and for the world. Nick reflects on the other six sayings in the light of this passage and pieces together the rich tapestry of truth and promise that enables us to know the fullness of life that is found in Christ alone.
Jesus does not say 'I will give you resurrection and life', but 'I AM the resurrection and the life'! Malc Drew speaks about the life transforming power of Jesus who brings us from death to life, releasing us from the shackles of death and the strongholds of sin.
'I am the Good shepherd' - these words of Jesus resonate so powerfully with the heart of the Gospel; here we glimpse the seeking, saving God who is everything that the 'bad shepherds' are not! Attached to this saying is an incredible promise that encompasses the most incredible gift of God to those who are His own.
Jesus said: 'I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly'. What an amazing truth and such an incredible promise - life in all its fullness. Sue reminds us that there is but one way to know the kind of life for which we were created - to enter into the life of God through relationship with Jesus.
Jesus said: 'I AM The Light of the World' - this saying carries an amazing promise: 'whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'. This promise though is conditional, in that the disciple must follow Jesus. Nick opens up our thinking as to what it means for Jesus to be light - light that is to dwell in our hearts such that we are light in the world. Jesus says to His disciples 'You are the light of the world' and the implications of this are huge!
With each of the I AM sayings of Jesus, there is both a promise and a call to respond. Each saying brings us a deep insight into the person of Jesus and who He is to us and for the world. Here Jesus says 'Whoever comes to me and whoever believes will never hunger or thirst; the promise only finds its fulfilment as we respond to His call and so avail ourselves of the gift of life that is found in Him alone.
Nick introduces a series of seven sermons on the I AM sayings of Jesus. These sayings have deep roots in Old Testament prophecy and they reveal to us key facets of who Jesus is - for us and for the world. Each comes with a promise to be appropriated, a required response, some eternal truth. These are all 'Life' sayings that capture the essence of what it is to know Jesus as the Lord and giver of Life.