In the Bible, a name often signifies a person's identity, purpose, and reputation. It's not just a way to distinguish one person from another; it's a profound statement about who they are. Throughout this study, we'll explore how the names given to Jesus—from Old Testament prophecies to New Testament revelations—build a complete picture of His role in God's redemptive plan.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23 NLT “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
In this session we will continue our discussion of the I Am declarations of Jesus. The "I Am" statements of Jesus are a series of profound declarations found in the Gospel of John. They are significant because they connect Jesus directly to God's own name as revealed to Moses in the Old Testament, which was "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). By using these statements, Jesus was not only revealing aspects of his own nature and identity, but also claiming divine authority. Last week we started our discussion of Jesus' declaration that He is the Way the Truth and the Life. John 14:6 (NIV): Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. We were able to get through The Way and the Truth. This week we will complete our study of this declaration with Jesus' declaration that He is the Life.
We’ve studied the names/titles Immanuel, Christ/Annointed One, Word, Savior and Savior.
We have been talking about the “I Am” statements of Jesus that are in the book of John. Each revealing a different aspect of His identity and purpose. These statements are a direct echo of God's self-revelation to Moses in the Old Testament.
Exodus 3:13-15 NIV [13] Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” [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.’ ” [15] God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
Several weeks ago we studied the declaration “I am the good Shepherd
John 10:11-15 (NIV): "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."
Then I am the bread of life.
John 6:35 NIV Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Then it was “I am the light of the world”
John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Then it was I Am the Door (Gate)
John 10:7-10 NIV. [7] Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. [8] All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. [9] I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Two week I am the resurrection and the life.
John 11:25-26 NIV [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; [26] and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The significance of Jesus's declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life," found in John 11:25, is profound because it shifts the focus of hope from a distant event to His own present person and power.
Last week we started the study;
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This declaration by Jesus provides comfort, clarification, and direction to His disciples in a moment of distress.
The Meaning of the Declaration
Jesus declares Himself to be three essential things, all of which solve Thomas’s question about "the way."
1. I Am the Way
Jesus is the sole path to God the Father. He is the mediator between God and humanity, eliminating all other means of salvation.
2. I Am the Truth
Jesus embodies reality itself. He is not just a teacher of truth, but the source and substance of all divine revelation.
This means:
The Truth is a Person: Truth is not just an abstract philosophical concept or a set of moral laws, but is definitively and uniquely found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate objectivity and reality of God revealed to humanity.
The Fulfillment of Revelation: The Greek word for truth used here (aletheia) can refer to reality, sincerity, and reliability. By claiming to be "the truth," Jesus asserts that He is the true and faithful revelation of God's character and plan.
He is the Substance of Divine Revelation
Jesus is the substance of all divine revelation
John 1:1-5 NIV [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. [4] In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John identifies Jesus as the Logos (Word) of God, underscoring His role as the ultimate self-expression of the divine.
Then John says that the word became flesh
John 1:14 NIV The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Meaning that Jesus is the direct, tangible, and complete revelation of the invisible God.
Today I am going to try to finish that declaration. We talked about Jesus as the way and the truth. Today, we are going to explore why Jesus is the life.
I Am The Life
Life here refers to more than mere biological existence; it means eternal life and abundant life.
John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus is the source, sustainer, and goal of all true life, a life characterized by a vibrant relationship with God.
John 5:25-27 NIV [25] Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. [27] And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
The "Now Is" signifies that a spiritual resurrection was currently taking place during Jesus' earthly ministry.
The "dead" here refers to those who are spiritually dead—dead in their sins and alienation from God.
The "voice of the Son of God" is the preaching of the Gospel. Those who hear (meaning to listen, believe, and obey) are immediately raised from spiritual death to eternal life. This emphasizes that salvation and new life are found in Christ right now.
Jesus claims to possess the same self-sustaining, independent life that the Father does. This is Jesus’ claim of deity and inherent power, making Him the source of all life.
The Father has formally delegated the supreme authority to "execute judgment" to the Son. This judgment is absolute, universal, and will be carried out by Him at the end of time
John 5:28-29 NIV[28] “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice [29] and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.
The Son of Man: Title links Jesus's divine authority back to His humanity. It is fitting that the one who became fully man and tasted the depths of human experience is the one given the right to judge all humanity.
Let’s take a look at prophecy that foretells this”
Daniel 7:13-14 NIV [13] “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. [14] He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Let’s take a look at another scripture related to Jesus being the life.
1 John 5:11-12 NIV[11] And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
The Apostle John emphasizes that this is a divine declaration, an unshakable truth from God Himself.
God has "given" us eternal life. This stresses that salvation is a free gift (grace) and not something earned through works or merit.
The gift of life is intrinsically connected to the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the source and container of this life. This life is not just a promise of a future existence but a present reality that begins the moment one believes.
John 5:24-27 NIV [24] “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. [25] Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. [26] For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. [27] And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
John 17:2-3 NIV [2] For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [3] Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
1John 5:12 NIV "Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."
To "have the Son" means to have a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord and Savior. This is the only prerequisite for possessing eternal life.
Having the Son = Having Life: The moment one believes, they possess eternal life. It is not merely a hope for the future but a present possession.
Romans 10:9-10 NIV [9] If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Not Having the Son = Not Having Life: This is the sobering counterpart, highlighting that eternal life is only found in Christ. Outside of a relationship with the Son of God, a person remains in a state of spiritual death and separation from the life-giving God.
Eternal life is a gift from God and is exclusively found in His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have a genuine relationship with Jesus, you possess this divine, eternal life; if not, you don't.
The Way, The Truth and The Life. You cannot have one without the others.
We need The Way because we are lost (sin separates us from God).
We need The Truth because we are confused (spiritual ignorance).
We need The Life because we are spiritually dead (eternally separated without Him).
Closing Thought: "No one comes to the Father, but through Me." This is a powerful summary of Jesus's unique role as the mediator between God and humanity. It calls for an ongoing commitment and continuous process of aligning our lives with His direction.
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