(May 28, 2024) Richard Winter shares…

When God told Moses that he was the one chosen to bring Israel out of their darkness in Egypt, the astounded and uncertain shepherd had said, ‘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?’

God’s reply was ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you”’ (Exodus 3:9-10).

No doubt you can image Moses thinking ‘“I AM” has sent me? They’ll probably say, “And who’s this I AM?”’ But…  dear reader, do you know who the ‘I AM’ of scripture is?

If I was to communicate with you in the same manner that God spoke to Moses, you would get to know about me. Not everything of course…  but some things. Such as that I have a southern accent, I’m not too tall, I’m good looking(!) and so on. Because I said these things about myself, you can call them a small revelation of who I am.

Revelations about God
In the Old Testament God would reveal Himself as ‘who He is and what He can do at that moment in time.’ In Genesis He is Elohim, God the creator, Yahweh the Lord… and the revelations go on.

Without listing and explaining all the names God used in revealing Himself (there are so many!), from the following seven you will see the bigger picture of the one who said, ‘I AM THAT I AM.’ Each is basically a compound self-revelation at a particular time, God and the activity He reveals Himself as being for that moment in time –

1. Adonai (Lord, Master)
2. El Roi (The God who sees me)
3. Jehovah Nissi (The Lord is my banner)
4. Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will provide)
5. Jehovah Raah (The Lord is my shepherd)
6. Jehovah Rapha (The Lord who heals you)
7. Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is peace).

And in the New Testament gospels Jesus did exactly the same thing – in certain circumstances He revealed who He is, what He could do. He even declared in John 8:58NKJV, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’

Revelations about Jesus
Let me give you from John’s gospel seven things Jesus said about Himself – revelations – truths about who Jesus is as the great I AM! This is… God in the New Testament, further self-revealing Himself!

And what did He say about Himself? Jesus clearly revealed that He is the –

1. Bread of Life (John 6:35)
Every day of life we are hungry and need food. Yes, we all need some daily bread. Jesus was implying that as bread or any food is essential to our physical bodies, so is He to our souls, our spiritual body.

All that is in the world – wealth, power, luxuries – never satisfy completely. Many have tried to live on these things but they never fully satisfy the hunger of the human heart.

Without Jesus, the bread of life, souls of men and women will perish from spiritual hunger!

2. Light of the World (John 9:5)
When we had guests staying with us recently, a complete power outage hit our area lasting from 10.00pm till 7.30 am. It was so dark! One guest wanted to go to the restroom at midnight but there was no light whatsoever and in the absolute blackness couldn’t find the right door.

If there is someone that is quite familiar with darkness, it has to be a blind person. Even if they directly face the noonday sun, while they may feel the heat, they will never see a tiny shade of light because their eyes have lost the ability to receive light and behold things!

Sadly, there are millions of people who see with their physical eyes but are so blind to spiritual truth. No wonder Jesus said that until He returns, this world is in spiritual and moral darkness (1John 5:19).

Spiritual blindness is caused by sin and Satan (2Corinthians 4:4)! It can only be cured by Jesus, ‘the Light of the World.’ Verse 6 says, ‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’ 

The good news is that whoever knows and abides in Christ will not walk in darkness but will see the glory of God’s kingdom!

3. Door (John 10:9)
Jesus said that He is the door (thura… entrance, gate) that everyone must use to gain salvation that will result in entering heaven – ‘I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he [and she] will be saved.’

Simply stated this is either a truth or a lie! See the singularity of this revelation – there is only one way to salvation and heaven, through one person’s teachings, through the great One, Jesus.

Another thought here… caring shepherds would lie at the door (or gate) of small sheep pens at eventide protecting their flock from unwanted intruders as mentioned below. Here we can also think in terms of protection from Jesus.

4. Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
The pastoral setting in ancient Israel was known to all –

• Sheep gave wool for clothing as well as meat.
• Shepherds stayed with their sheep to protect them from wild animals and rustlers.
• Being a shepherd wasn’t an easy job! Minimal sleep, long days and essential vigilance.
• The good shepherd watched the flock with utmost love and care.
• He would not hesitate to give his life for his sheep, if necessary.

Jesus had been talking to Pharisees who were not understanding Him (v6). As Israel’s religious leaders they were not doing a good job of being God’s shepherds. Aware that the close relationship of the shepherd with the sheep is that they know his voice, Jesus said, ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:27).

He was implying to that His followers would see the difference between Him and other shepherds, that they’d know who to follow.

5. Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
Why did Jesus come? To seek and to save sinners (1Timothy 5:15) and to give life more abundantly (John 10:10).

The fact that Jesus mentioned resurrection from the dead proves that physical death and the grave are not the end but rather just the beginning!

Jesus is acknowledging everyone will die but not everyone will be resurrected to eternal life only sinners saved by repenting and accepting Him as Saviour – it was and still is a personal choice.

6. Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)
There are not ‘many ways’ to heaven like all religionists love to proclaim and believe! But there are so many ways leading to death and hell on that broad road!

• Jesus said there is a narrow way and a broad way.
• There is only one truth – God’s word (Jesus and the Holy Bible).
• Every decision for Christ and gaining eternal life is an affair of the heart.
  
  

Our direction of travel – the narrow road – is still decided by free will. Salvation and eternal life are only found in the person and completed Calvary work of Jesus! Choose your direction of travel wisely!

7. True Vine (John 15:1,5)
Jesus often spoke about pastoral settings for His teachings. He also used farming settings… such as a farmer going out to sow his seed.

Seed grows and in this teaching about the true vine, Jesus is talking about grape growing – a true root will go deep into the earth, and grows to blossom and produce a bountiful harvest.

In Psalm 80:8-10aMge, the psalmist says to God: ‘Remember how you brought a young vine from Egypt, cleared out the brambles and briers and planted your very own vineyard? You prepared the good earth, you planted her roots deep; the vineyard filled the land. Your vine soared high.’ 

John 15:1 and 5 are about discerning a great truth… ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’

In addressing those Pharisees and others listening, and mentioning much fruit Jesus was saying…

• It’s not about the temple, nor the priests.
• It’s about me coming to fulfill all prophecy about the Messiah coming to redeem God’s people.
• Grow in me for all spiritual truth and the harvest will be worldwide, not just the confines of Israel.

Revelations About Sharing the I AM Today
One time Jesus asked the disciples who people thought He was, getting the reply of ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets’ (Matthew 16:13).

Those were all great men of God, of course, but when He then asked those disciples, ‘Who do you say I am?’, Peter promptly answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16).

How would we answer today? Who do we say He is? What do we know Him to be? Seven times Jesus explained in compound revelations that ‘I am what I am!’ And He wants us to share that revelation of He is – the I AMs of all life and future.

Now you’ll never be chosen to be a Moses… but we are all chosen to share Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). That means sharing the reality of the great I AM with the unsaved… beginning at home, ‘our Jerusalem’!

So, if you ever wondered what to tell others about who and what Jesus is – share the seven revelations above.

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlineConnect@gmail.com
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