Are you ready for Christmas?

A typical greeting this time of year: Having you finished your shopping?  Did you start your baking? Will you have a houseful for Christmas?

Even though all these activities can be fun and exciting - maybe even tradition - is that really what getting ready for Christmas is all about?

For the next four weeks, stay tuned for some Advent blogs that lead up to Christmas Day.  I challenge you to take a few minutes and read as a way of preparing your heart for the true meaning of the holiday season.

THE "7 I AM'S" OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 

As a unique way of introducing who Jesus is, the apostle John chose to describe Jesus Christ in terms that his audience could understand.  They knew that God identified Himself by saying "I AM who I AM" in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14).  And so to connect Jesus with God directly, John uses 7 names or descriptors using the "I AM" titles that Jesus declared about Himself.

1.  I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE 

John 6:35 "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst."

To get the context of Jesus' self-identifying statement, let's look at where Jesus was and what was happening.  In John 6, Jesus and His disciples were traveling throughout Israel.  They were by the Sea of Galilee and a large crowd was following them.  Jesus taught this crowd and many of us may know how it was getting late and the people had no food or access to supplies at this remote location.  Jesus did the impossible and multiplied the five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand!

The next day, Jesus and His disciples tried to get away from the crowds for rest, but the crowd continued to follow them.  Jesus knew that these folks weren't following because of His amazing and life-changing teachings.  They wanted more food!  And they wanted to be entertained by the incredible miracles that Jesus could do.

"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.  Do not labour for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.'" (John 6:26 & 27a)

This is how Jesus was different than the religious teachers of that day: Jesus could see into the hearts of individuals and truly know their motives.  Being all-knowing, Jesus still looks into our hearts today and knows everything about us: our thoughts, our intentions, our secrets and our sins.  But instead of judging harshly, Jesus chose to offer the crowd something more than the temporary filling of the stomachs or flash-in-the-pan thrills of signs and wonders! 

"I am the bread of life."  (John 6:48)  Jesus repeats this statement to emphasize that He is the fulfillment of God's Old Testament miracle of manna in the desert.  When the Israelites escaped from Egypt under Moses' leadership, God provided daily food called manna.  The Jews called it "bread from heaven."  But Jesus is much more than a daily sustenance; He promises that "I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever..." (John 6:51)  In the previous verse, Jesus gave the simple instruction on how to access that eternal life: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (verse 47)

As you are baking for the holidays, maybe cookies, cakes, pies or buns, think about Jesus, the "Bread of life" and consider His offer to fill and satisfy a deeper hunger in your life.  

 

Believing in Jesus as the One sent from God the Father to bring eternal life is what Christmas is all about!