Scripture Reading: John 10:1-18
Message: “I AM”
Text: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Have you ever used the words “I am?”
I must admit that I have used those words.
I remember a boxer who said, “I am the greatest”.
We are told there are seven deadly sins.
One of these deadly sins is called pride.
What is pride?
You might say that pride is self-respect.
Is there anything wrong with self-respect?
I don’t think so.
Our service personnel are very proud to serve the United States of America.
They respect the flag and what it stands for.
They are willing to give their lives that the rest of us might enjoy freedom.
This is not sinful pride.
They are not inflating their egos.
They are not looking for a pat on the back.
They are proud to be an American.
I might say that I pride myself in the way I treat and help other people.
Am I being sinful?
I don’t think so.
If I did things just to make me look good and then brag about how wonderful I am, then I would be committing the sin of pride.
A teacher might say that she takes pride in the way she teaches because her students are respectful and eager to learn.
The teacher is not saying this to give herself credit, but she is giving credit to the students because her goal is to help them learn and to help them reach their full potential.
There are people who do things just to gain attention and credit.
Some people talk only about themselves, because they think they are most important and if they were not around doing things the world would come to a halt.
I am saying these people believe life revolves around them and without their words and activities, life would cease.
These people have a real ego problem.
They are puffed up with pride and this pride is sinful.
I heard a story about a little boy who measured himself to be nine feet tall. After measuring himself, he told his mother he was as tall as Goliath.
His mother inquired as to how he came up with such a measurement.
The little fellow said he took his ruler, went outside in the sun and measured himself on the ground.
There are many people who measure themselves with methods similar to the method the little boy used.
Some people measure themselves by themselves. In other words, they use their own standards of measurement.
God’s Word, 2 Corinthians 10:12, talks about measuring or comparing ourselves.
The Word says, “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (v. 12).
In other words, we cannot prove or show how good we are or how wonderful our deeds are by comparing them to other people.
Comparing ourselves with other people only causes us to think we are better than other people.
Jesus used the words “I am” many times.
For example, He said:
1. “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7)
2. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).
3. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).
4. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
6. “I am the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
7. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1).
Was Jesus trying to puff himself up?
Was He trying to boost His ego?
Was He trying to impress the people around him?
Did Jesus commit the sin of pride?
Of course Jesus did not commit any sin.
He was not interested in gaining anything for himself.
He came into this world for each one of us.
He came that we might have the opportunity to spend eternity in His kingdom.
He came that sinful man could be reconciled with God the Father.
He came to bridge the gap between sinful man and Almighty God.
When Jesus said that he was the gate for the sheep, he was saying that he was the only entrance into the Kingdom of God.
As the shepherd gathered his sheep together at night, usually in a three-sided area, a cave, an alcove, or some type of partially enclosed area, the shepherd slept at the entrance so he could protect his sheep.
The entrance, of course, is the way the sheep entered and resembled the opening to a type of corral.
Since there was no gate, the shepherd had to protect his sheep and his sheep knew him, the shepherd acted as the gate to the enclosure.
Jesus is saying we need protection as much as the sheep.
We need to be protected from spending eternity in hell.
The shepherd is very concerned about each of his sheep and by the same token Jesus, our Shepherd, is concerned about each one of us.
Jesus said, in Matthew 18:12-14, “If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”
We are God’s creation.
We are important to Him.
Jesus came to earth as our Shepherd to “seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
The shepherd out on the hills does not want to lose any of his sheep and Jesus, the Great Shepherd, does not want to lose any of us.
The saving grace for the sheep is the shepherd because he stands guard at the gate and does not let his sheep wander away or be attacked by wild animals or be stolen by a robber or thief.
The saving grace for each of us is that Jesus is standing at the gate to our hearts.
He wants us to open the gate so that he might enter.
Once we accept Him as our own personal Lord and Savior, he then protects us as the shepherd protects his sheep.
Jesus then becomes the gate for us to enter into the Kingdom of God.
From that point on, we are saved and we are guaranteed a place in Heaven because our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
When Jesus said, “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7), he was not puffing himself up. He was not committing the sin of pride. Jesus was saying this for our benefit.
Jesus went on to say, “I am the good shepherd” (v. 11).
Why does Jesus say He is the “good” shepherd?
Again, Jesus is not priding himself concerning his goodness.
He is saying that our destiny depends on Him.
Where we spend eternity depends upon our acceptance of Him.
Sheep, I am told, are really dumb animals. They need constant supervision and protection.
We also fall into that category. We, too, are dumb in many ways. We are sinful by nature and we tend to want to do things our way. We make many mistakes. We wander off the straight and narrow path. We like to let people know we do things ourselves. We give credit to only one person and that person is us.
From the beginning of time, God knew our hearts. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin. He knew this would happened and every person after would possess the sinful nature.
God could have given up on mankind. He could have wiped out mankind, but He didn’t. God loved mankind so much that he came up with a plan to give man a second opportunity to form a close relationship with him.
He provided for us “the good shepherd” who would do whatever the Father said to protect mankind from the thieves and the robbers. The shepherd will do anything to protect his sheep, even to the point of risking his life.
Jesus “the good shepherd” was willing to give his life for us.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v. 11).
Think for a moment about something you own or something you prize highly. Let’s say, your house, your car, your wallet or a loved one. Would you be willing to risk you life for any of these? You could replace your house, your car, or your wallet (with money), but you could not replace a loved one. You might be willing to risk your life more for a loved one that for the material possessions.
When you stop to think, we really don’t own anything. Everything we have is not ours. Everything we have, God has provided for us. All of our material possessions will remain after we depart this world.
Because Jesus said he is the good shepherd, gives us the assurance that he loves us more than the shepherd loves his sheep. Jesus used the example of the shepherd and his sheep because in those days, shepherds and sheep were very common.
The fact that Jesus is the good shepherd and did give his life for us tells us how much he cares for and loves us. We have the protection and assurance of our eternal destination.
Once again, Jesus did not exhibit pride when he said, “I am the good shepherd” (v. 11).
In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
He used the word bread because people could associate with it. Bread was probably used at every meal as it is today. When a person is hungry, a slice of bread will curb the appetite, however, today, we add a little peanut butter and jelly. I am not sure what was added back in Jesus’ time, but I sure something was added.
Bread was one food that would sustain a person’s physical life. Everyone has to eat something in order to survive.
Although Jesus used the example of bread, associated with physical life, He was really talking about a person’s spiritual hunger and spiritual life.
I say this because Jesus went on to say, “He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our own personal Lord and Savior, spiritually, we will never go hungry because he will live within us and fill that void that we would otherwise have.
Today, many people are blessed with many material possessions, but are unhappy because there is something missing in their lives. They are not physically hungry, but they are spiritually hungry. The void in their lives can only be filled with the presence of Jesus.
This is another time when Jesus was not trying to inflate his ego. He indicated he was the bread of life that could fill the spiritual hunger.
In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
What was Jesus really saying?
Jesus is indicating that there is evil in the world also referred to as darkness. Although evil started way back with the fall of Lucifer and a third of the heavenly host, there is now hope and that hope is in “the light of the world.”
God is the creator of everything that exists and the light of the world is in his incarnate Son Jesus Christ. We believe in the Trinity and the Trinity is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. These are not three different beings, but one in three different forms.
Sinners are living in darkness, but the saved are living in the light of the Cross and under the shed blood. Jesus brings us the presence of the Father, the love of the Father, the leadership of the Father, and the safety of the Father that each of us needs so badly.
Was Jesus bragging about being the light of the world?
Was Jesus concerned about making himself look good?
Was he trying to boost his ego?
No!
He was saying his light will forever keep us out of darkness. He indicated that with his light shining in our hearts, we would be able to stay on the straight path leading to his eternal kingdom.
Jesus also said, John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Jesus indicated that he has power over death because he is the Creator of all life.
Was he bragging?
No, he was not bragging. He was being truthful and at the same time telling the people he will conquer death and believing in him, they, too, could conquer death.
He was talking about the spiritual life of each of us. It is true that each of us will die a physical death, but spiritually, we will live forever. We will not only live forever, but we will have new bodies and we will live together in the Father’s kingdom.
Was Jesus saying this for His benefit? No, he was stating this for the benefit of the people present and also for each one of us.
In John 15:1, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
You see, Jesus once again says the words “I am”.
I remember as a small boy, I spent my first 10 years growing up in the country. When the right season came along, I would go out and pick blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. I also remember going with my parents to visit one of their friends. These friends had a long walkway lined on both sides with grapevines. There were many grapes on these vines.
I was told that a few years before, there were only a few grapevines, but within a short period of time the vines multiplied and multiplied. A few vines became many. A single grapevine can bear many grapes.
Grapes were very plentiful in Jesus’ time. Grapes and grapevines were very familiar to the people of that day.
It is true that the grapevines have to be pruned or cut back so that the plant will become stronger and more productive.
Jesus is saying that he is the vine and we are the branches. Just as the nonproductive branches are pruned or cut off those people who claimed to be followers of Jesus, but turn from him will be separated from the vine, Jesus, and cast aside.
Those people who are true followers of Christ, witness for Christ and follow his example will be fruitful and produce much fruit. The fruit that is produced is the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 lists the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
When Jesus said, “I am the true vine,” he was not trying to project a “holier than thou” attitude. He was telling people that they must remain in him or they will wither and be cast out.
If we will accept Jesus and follow his commands, we will be his true disciples. Jesus loves us as the Father loves him. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Jesus did lay down his life for each of us because of his great for us. He chose to do that just for us. Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches; therefore, we should go forth and bear much fruit.
Conclusion:
Every time Jesus used the words “I am,” it was for our benefit.
8. “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7)
Jesus is the way to our salvation.
9. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).
Jesus loves us and cares for us.
10. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).
Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
11. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
Jesus is the answer to our spiritual needs.
12. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
Jesus is the source of life and has power over death.
13. “I am the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
Jesus set the example for us to follow.
14. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1).
Without Jesus in our life, we are like the branch severed from the vine. We will die spiritually.
I want to close with this little poem entitled “Jesus” written by Charlotte S.C. Panton.
Lonely? No, not lonely
With Jesus standing by;
His presence always cheers me,
I know that He is nigh.
Friendless? No, not friendless
Since Jesus is my friend;
I change, but he remaineth
True, faithful to the end.
Sadden’d? No, not sadden’d
By scenes of deepest woe;
I should be if I knew not
That Jesus loves me so.
Tired? No, not tired;
While leaning on His breast
My soul has full enjoyment
Of His eternal rest.
Amen.
