Starter – in groups: Discuss the quote on your table. What do you think Jesus is trying to say?

Objectives: Understand the meanings of the “I Am” sayings Understand the other contexts which affect the meanings

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.” “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” “I am the gate for the sheep; whoever enters through me will be saved.” “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” “I am the vine; you are the branches.”

Why does he talk like this? Jesus often spoke and taught in parables and used analogies to everyday things that the people of his day would know and understand. He also drew on images and ideas from the Old Testament.

“I Am” in the Old Testament Why would Jesus choose this phrase to talk about himself? Exodus 3:13-15 13 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?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15“This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”

Understanding the “Bread of Life”: Exodus 16: 12-15 “In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.” Why was this manna important to the Jews? What did it represent?

Understanding the “Bread of Life” Jesus had recently fed the 5000 with loaves of bread and fish. Bread brought sustenance to people from the poorest to the richest. Bread was also important in the Temple, reminding us that Jesus’ body is a temple. Although Jesus draws on the people’s familiarity with the story of Moses and the manna from heaven, he is trying to show that as the bread of life, he is superior to Moses. His bread was physical, but Jesus’ is spiritual bread that will give them eternal life.

Understanding the “Light of the World”: Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. What does this tell us about light? How does this link to John’s ideas of light from the Prologue?

Understanding the “Light of the World” 8:12 - Jesus is speaking at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles, a Jewish festival involving four golden candlesticks being lit in the Temple. These lights symbolise God’s pillar of fire, leading the Jews through the desert. Light brings illumination – without light everything is dark and scary. The light symbolised a spiritual enlightenment if you believe in him. Those who join Jesus as one of His followers will not be ignorant of spiritual matters but will have the power of understanding, especially of the spiritual truth that brings eternal life.

Understanding the “Good Shepherd”: Old Testament References Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Ezekiel 34:2 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?”

Understanding the “Good Shepherd” Shepherding was an important part of the local economy – lamb was an important part of ceremonial and sacrificial practice. Numerous important Old Testament figures were shepherds – Abraham, King David, Moses. A shepherd’s job is to accept responsibility for the safety and well being of his flock. Good shepherds would put their lives at risk to save the flock, as David explains:   “When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.” 1 Samuel 17:34

Understanding the “True Vine”: Old Testament References to the Jewish people Jeremiah 2:21 “I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?” Isaiah 5 depicts a vineyard that repeatedly disappoints its owner, despite being well cared for – it was destroyed as it could only produce bad grapes. Morris - “all the Old Testament passages which use this symbol appear to regard Israel as faithless or as the object of severe punishment.”

Understanding the “True Vine”: Vines produce grapes as fruit – the grapes are used for food and wine. Wine was a central part of the Passover meal – representing the blood of the Israelites in Egypt. Jesus turned water to wine as his first miracle. Just as grapes can’t grow if they’re not attached to the vine, we can’t have the “fruits of the spirit” unless we remain in Jesus. We do this by loving one another.

Summary Quiz Jesus is both shepherd and lamb. How? If Jesus is a vine, what is God? Why? If Jesus is the bread of life, what does this mean for Moses?