December 3 “I Am He”

John 4:26 Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”
 
ONE way John teaches us of Jesus is through eight “I am” statements Jesus speaks to define and describe his power as Savior.  They are, “I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Way, Truth and Life. I am the Light of the world. I am the Gate. I am the Resurrection and the Life. I am the Bread of Life. I am Living Water. I am the True Vine.” These are living images of God’s eternal life.
   But let’s consider the one in this verse: “I who speak to you am he.” Or, “I am he.” This is not included in the “I am.” list.  Perhaps, though, this is one we should put first. Who does Jesus say he is when he confesses, “I am he”?   
   He’s Messiah, the one long expected. John conveys Jesus’ self-confession for two very important reasons. First for the Jewish reader, John again is separating Jesus from John the Baptist. Remember the prophet said in John 1:20b “I am not the Christ.” John the Baptist and John the apostle point to Jesus as the Savior. So should we.  
   Second, John uses this conversation between Jesus and the woman to teach us how to teach the gospel. Jesus is responding to the woman at the well in Sychar, Samaria. She had said to him in John 4:25 “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  When Jesus said, “I am he.” he is proclaiming the Savior has come. He reveals the good news of life, love, grace and forgiveness. The Lord wants the woman to know that God has fulfilled his promises to save. What better way to give authority to his message than to declare, “I am he, the Messiah, who has come to redeem Israel.”
   It’s true, isn’t it, that we can only know Jesus as the Light of the world, the Resurrection and the Life and the Good Shepherd if we know his as “Messiah, Savior, Lord of Life.” Jesus cannot be the Way and the Truth, the Bread of Life, the Gate, Living Water and the True Vine if we deny or compromise he is God in the flesh come to save.
   People need Jesus. They need a Savior – a Messiah to rescue them from the pit of Destruction into eternal life. Only the Messiah can light the path of life for the dark soul. Only the Messiah will close the gate against sin and death. Only the Living Water and Bread of Life will prepare your eternal feast of joy with him in heaven.
   Be a true good news evangelist. Tell people that there is no other name by which they will be saved. People need to know Jesus’ to know eternal life.
 
Prayer: Jesus, you are the Christ, the Messiah, sent to save. I pray I am eager and loving to tell your gospel. Amen.