Sudden Impact 2

I AM.” He paused. I waited, He continued, “When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WAS.’ When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WILL BE.’ When you live in this moment it is not hard; I am there! My name is ‘I AM!’










The apostle John, in the New Testament revealed that Christ’s "I Am" statements reveal Him to be the same God of the Old Testament. Yes, He is the "Bread of Life". He is the only source for spiritual life sustaining food which enables us to live forever.

John then reveals Christ’s second "I Am!" proclamation in John 8:12.

Jesus said this sudden impact statement: “I Am the Light of the World” (8:12).

Visual Illustration – Light the candles in the front of the altar!

In writing about Jesus, the apostle John says, "In Him was life, & that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (John 1:4).

He goes on to say, "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, & though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:9-12).

Since we are talking about light lets listen to Questions and answers about light from Paul Drecker:

ILLUSTRATION: Change (selected light)

Q: How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: How many can you afford?

Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Only one, but the bulb has got to really WANT to change.

Q: How many real men does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None; real men are not afraid of the dark.

Q: How many Floridians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Don’t know for sure; they are still counting.

Q: How many Charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Ten; one to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Q: How many TV evangelists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One; but for the light to continue, send in your donation today.

Q: How many members of a church does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Ten; one to actually change the light bulb and nine to say how much they liked the old one.

Have you ever noticed that light brings change? It is the very nature of light to bring change to any given situation.

Darren Ethier
This story is about a cave which lived under the ground, as caves have the habit of doing. It had spent its life in darkness. It heard a voice calling to it: "Come up into the light; come and see the sunshine." The cave retorted: "I don’t know what you mean; there isn’t anything but darkness." Finally the cave ventured forth and was surprised to see light everywhere. Looking up to the sun cave said: "Come with me and see the darkness." The sun asked: "What is the darkness?" The cave replied: "Come and see." And so one day the sun accepted the invitation. As it entered the cave it said: "Now show me your darkness." But there was no darkness! (Autoillustrator.com, TRUTH)


TRANSITION: As we continue in our study of John we see that… Jesus has to bring change in thinking. He does this by letting