This blog will finish with the last three of Jesus’ seven “I am” statements.
The Resurrection and The Life
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”
The background to this comment comes from the death of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. Jesus was informed that Lazarus was sick. But instead of rushing to him, Jesus waited another two days before making his way to his house. Jesus told his disciples that the sickness would not end in death (John 11:4). By the time Jesus got to Lazarus, he was dead and had been in the tomb for four days.
Lazarus’ sister Martha met Jesus and informed him that her brother wouldn’t have died if he had arrived sooner. Jesus explained that Lazarus would rise again. Martha thought he was talking about the resurrection in the last days; which is when Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (Jn11:25-26 NIV). They went to the tomb and rolled away the stone and Jesus called for Lazarus to come out. Lazarus walked out of the grave with his hands and feet still wrapped in burial linens.
Jesus was making the point that he was the present resurrection and the future one. He raised the dead to life in the physical world and will raise the dead to life in the spiritual afterworld. The resurrection is not only an event to come at the time of death, but this resurrection is an actual person – Jesus! He can bring life to the dead for those who believe.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Jesus had just explained to his disciples that one of them would betray him. They were upset, and Jesus comforted them by saying he was going to his Father’s house to prepare a place. He explained that he would return for them one day, but they didn’t understand what he meant. Thomas asked him where he was going so they could find their way to him. At this point, Jesus answered:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6 NIV).
Jesus made it clear that the only way to heaven is through him. He is the truth that will set people free (John 8:32), and he is life. In my last blog, I mentioned John 10:10, which states that Jesus has come so we can have life and life abundantly.
The Vine
Jesus continued to comfort his disciples and explained the good that will come once he returned to heaven:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me?
5 “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. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (Jn 15:1-8 NIV)
Vineyards were very common, so the disciples understood what Jesus meant. What do you picture when you hear of a vineyard? I live in an area that has many vineyards. Some years this area gets voted as one of the top wine regions in the US. I’ve been to the vineyards. There are acres of grapevines tied to trellises about five feet above the ground, but that’s not how grapes were grown in those days.
In biblical times, the training of grapes was done a few different ways. One method allowed the vines to grow along the ground and then the grapes were propped up off the soil. Another way was to raise them up a pole or through a wooden rectangle that allowed the vines to drape over.
Immediately after harvest, the grapevines receive a hard prune. A grapevine consists of a trunk with cordons. The trunk is the largest part of the vine that extends from the ground. The cordons are the branches or “arms” that extend outward. These grow parallel to the ground, and in our modern vineyards, they are tied to the wires.
During the growing season, the pruning continues by removing shoots or, as we call them, suckers. Suckers are shoots that produce foliage but no fruit. Removing these vegetative shoots allows the vines’ energy to go into the branches that do produce fruit. This leads to increased fruit production and better airflow, which prevents disease.
In this metaphor, Jesus was telling us that he is the vine (trunk), and we are the offshoots (branches) of this vine. If we stay connected to Jesus through worship, reading, learning, etc., we will bear fruit in our lives. If we fall away, we wither, but if we stick with Jesus, we will reach maturity and become his disciples.
Connecting the Dots
The seven “I am” statements connect to Exodus when Moses encountered God through the burning bush. God told Moses that he would become the one to deliver the Israelites out of the hand of Pharaoh.
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?”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” This is what you are to speak to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.” (Exo 3:13-14 NIV).
That always struck me as an odd statement. What does that mean? I am? I am what? It didn’t seem that God answered Moses’ question, but Jesus did. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament I AM. He is the very nature of God: bread of life, the light of the world, the gate, the good shepherd, resurrection and the life, the way the truth and the life, and the true vine.
Take time to revisit all seven statements and meditate on these things. Until next blog, be blessed!
