Who is Jesus? A look at the Old and New Testaments by Brandi J.W. Ray

 

There’s this song that Ms. Lucy used to sing – “You know, there’s always somebody talking ‘bout me but, really, I don’t mind. They try and stop and block my progress most of the time. You know, the mean things they say and try to make me feel bad, but I can’t miss a friend that I never had – I’ve got Jesus. I’ve got Jesus, and that’s enough.”

My grandma (Ms. Lucy) would hit this shoulder bounce mid-song and sing it with so much pride. The song and her shoulder bounce are memory staples. But, something else that I closely remember? My grandma used to say, “call Him.” 

On the days where I feel empty, betrayed, talked about, and more – I find myself listening to that song because when it is all said and done:

·       When “friends” talk about you

·       When jobs don’t hire you

·       When the blessings you’ve been praying for seem to miss you

The one that I should have is Jesus, and certainly, that is enough. But, how do you access Him? You call Him. But, what exactly are you calling on and why is it enough?

One of my favorite passages is Exodus 3:14. When God meets and instructs Moses at the burning bush, Moses turns to God and asks, "When I go to the Egyptians, who do I tell them sent me?" In which God responds, "I AM who I AM. Tell them, I AM sent you." I've loved this scripture because, in reality, God was telling Moses – I AM ENOUGH. But, recently, something peculiar stuck out to me. In the book of John, there are eight "I am" statements from Jesus.

In theology, they teach you about "redemptive-history." Many of us look at the New Testament and think the first mention of Jesus is in the book of Matthew. Some of us have correlated Isaiah's prophecies to align with Jesus' fulfillment as the Messiah in the first gospel. But, redemptive history teaches that Jesus' story starts as early as Genesis 3:15 – right after the fall of Adam and Eve in Eden. It tells us that throughout the Old Testament, there is evidence that God would send a redeemer and that His redemption plan doesn't start in the latter half of the bible. The parallel between Exodus 3:14 and the "I AM" statements in John is just another example of this. Not only is this an example, but it also elaborates on the possible vague statement of God in Exodus. What does "I AM" mean?

John 6:35 - A Sustainer

In John 6, Jesus feeds thousands with five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish. After performing this miracle, the people still struggled to believe in His divinity. So, they referenced Exodus 16 and said, “Our people were in the wilderness for days, and God supplied manna (bread) each day. Do the same.” To which Jesus replied in verse 35, “I am the bread of life.” Therefore, whoever comes to Jesus would not hunger nor thirst anymore.

Our literal minds may first read this scripture to interpret that there will be a consistent and tangible meal. Yet, Jesus was truly saying that He can and will sustain. One of my recent favorite quotes comes from apologist, St. Augustine. In his book, Confessions, he states, “Our souls are restless until we rest in You.” As the book of Ecclesiastes teaches us, everything is meaningless under the sun; thus, live a life for above the sun – the Kingdom of God. When you set your sights on Christ and worry not about what people say, what jobs may or may not come and let yourself trust the process – the process of God developing, preparing, and using you, you will receive sustenance. The world cannot give you the approval you seek, the comfort you long for, nor the sustainability you require. However, in verse 35, Jesus is saying, “I can sustain you because I AM.”

John 8:12: A Guide 

In John 7, the Pharisees attempt to trick Jesus by giving him an indirect ultimatum. Either Jesus condemns the woman and calls for execution, or Jesus could ignore the need for an execution thus, breaking the law (Ten Commandments) given by Moses. Most of us are aware that in this story, Jesus tells them, “He without sin cast the first stone.” John 8 is a continuation of his exchange with the Pharisees in chapter 7. In verse 12, Jesus states, “I am the light of the world” and that whoever will follow Him will not walk in darkness. This statement is parallel to Isaiah 49:6 which God affirms to the people of Israel that He will bring light to this world, which would offer salvation. Here, we recognize Jesus’ confirmation that through Him there is salvation. If you imagine a lighthouse, you know its purpose is to emit light as a navigational guide. This “I AM” statement lends to the understanding that through Jesus, we will be able to navigate our spiritual troubles and turmoil. The answer is not in man, in a self-help book, nor in our devices but God alone.

John 10:9-12: A Shepard 

Are you really a Christian if you don’t know Psalms 23? Just saying. But, honestly, Psalms 23 is one of many references to God as a Shepard. A Shepard attends to a flock – He is not just an owner but someone who keeps a watchful eye. The sole responsibility of a Shepard is to tend to the flocks’ wellbeing and welfare. He guides them when an enemy presents, leads them to nutrients and, leads them in the right direction. So, it’s not odd that in John 10:9, Jesus first acknowledges Himself as the “gate” and that whoever enters will be led to good pasture. Secondly, in verse 11, Jesus says, “I AM the good Shepard” that will lay down His life for His sheep. While He’s referring to the crucifixion sacrifice, He’s also suggesting the many sacrifices He is making as the Savior. Jesus wasn’t liked nor rich – He didn’t have much of a chance to enjoy the luxuries of life. Instead, He gave up much of what we desire to tend to us. He cares about our welfare, and when we enter into Him (when we accept Him as our Savior and take heed to His life’s example), we are in good care and led to good pastures.

John 11:25: A New Life

The Urban Dictionary describes the AAVE phrase, "give me life," as someone or something that brings joy and excitement to another. We know that we will die, it's a life cycle, and after the fall, God sort of condemns us to it. However, the resurrection removed our condemnation of death. In Isaiah 53:11, there is a reference about the resurrection. At the end of verse 11, there is also the understanding that the purpose of the resurrection would be to bear our iniquities. When the brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus, dies, Jesus tells the sisters that He is the resurrection and those who believe in Him will have a life again. Which, Martha responds, "I know, Lord – in Heaven." Although he was also foreshadowing the miracle of Lazarus' resurrection, he was also addressing our iniquities' bearing. Death was a penalty for our wrongdoings – it was the only consequence for our lives here on Earth. Yet, Jesus took the fault of that and took our burden away. The "I AM" statement that Jesus is defining here is that we no longer should fear the penalty of our faults (instead, it's more of a deterrent than a punishment). There should be joy and excitement for our newness and ability to live each day despite ourselves and our mistakes. This life, which Jesus gives, is not just some afterlife thought. It's something we have access to now – His kingdom is already among us. In Matthew 6:9-13, you pray for it to come.

John 14:6 – The Way, The Truth and The Life 

In the Old Testament, Moses receives the way, truth, and life from God – the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments were a contractual agreement (covenant) between God and the Israelites. In short, I will redeem you, but you also have a set of rules to live by. The Ten Commandments or the law would be what the Pharisees would systematically use to deem someone fit for God. However, we know that the Israelites struggled to maintain the law, that even if they kept one but forgot the others, Jesus said it was still breaking the law and that Jesus came not to abolish but fulfill the law. At the Last Supper, Jesus affirms the Disciples’ fears by giving His second to last statement, the famous scripture, that Jesus is the way, truth, and the life.

There are two significant points about this declaration.

First, in response to doubting Thomas’s fears, Jesus gives the verse 6 response. This response wasn’t just summing up the last 5 statements but also confirming that the destination wasn’t just some “Sky-palace.” The destination is God and that coming through Jesus was the only way to access this relationship with God. Hence, why Jesus says, “the way.” Secondly, Jesus is also reaffirming His statement from Matthew 5:17-20, where he states that He’s not abolishing but fulfilling the law. Jesus’ perfection made Him credible and worthy to be the ultimate sacrifice that the Israelites or Jews no longer needed to offer to God. While Jesus was still respecting of the law because Jesus was a Jew, Jesus came explicitly because we could not keep the law. We were failing miserably and terribly. But, this “I AM” statement is the reassurance that our own merit will not lead us into Heaven. We are not bound to completing ritualistic steps that we may struggle to meet. Instead, Jesus took the hard part, and all we need to do now is follow Him.

John 15:1 – A Root

In Jesus' final "I AM" statement, Jesus tells His Disciples that He is the "true vine." God cultivates, Jesus originates. As we are branches, on this vine, who and what we are should grow out of Jesus. And if we fail, of course, the branch is cut off from the vine. However, what is most significant about this statement is its reference to Isaiah 5:1-7. Before Jesus' announcement as the vine, the Israelites were the vineyard. Yet, in Isaiah 5, right before God begins prophesizing redemption through Isaiah, God questions the vineyard's state. They were not bearing good fruit. Jesus' assertion of being the vine indicates how we should continue to grow moving forward. As branches, we should grow as our vine births us, as a part of that tree. People will tell who and whose we are by the fruit that we produce, and if you need instruction on that fruit, travel over to Galatians 5. This final statement is not only a part of Jesus' farewell address; it is the summary of what He came to do and all that He accomplished. And He accomplished this so that even amid our struggles, failures, and mistakes – we could have another chance to learn from Him.

One of my favorite scriptures finds itself at the end of this chapter. In verses 18-25, Jesus gives the lesson on "If the world hates you, remember it hated me first." Jesus teaches the Disciples that just because you live according to all of His "I AM" statements, it does not mean that you will be loved or that trouble won't find its way to you. Actually, Jesus teaches that your plight on this Earth will be just as complex because you adhere to these "I AM" statements. If the world could kill the Savior that it waited for and needed, what do you think it will do to you? The world will not love you because you're holy or right; it will hate you because you have set yourself apart from it. This is why Jesus is enough – because it is through Him, we have this relationship with God, that we have the navigation to access God and can experience this love from God.

The last "I AM" statement I will give to you is the one found in John 8:58, where Jesus says, "before Abraham, I AM." If we significantly remember, Abraham comes early in the Genesis text, and before that, there was Adam but most importantly, God. How can we continue to ignore God in the flesh? He said, "I AM" in Exodus 3:14, and He explicitly tells us again, in John 8:58. What's most powerful about the John 8:58 text is that Jesus doesn't say, "I was." He says, "I AM" because "AM" is the present tense of "be" – it means that He is active, very much alive and, with us always.

I pray that you hit my grandma's shoulder-bounce when you remember and cling tightly to the realization that Jesus is enough. Let Him be enough for you.

Be kind to yourself,

Mrs. Brandi J. W. Ray