Sudden Impact 5 Series

Sudden Impact 5: "I AM" statements of Jesus

Thesis: The I Am proclamations of Jesus in John’s Gospel reveal that Jesus is the Messiah and that He is the same God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3. Jesus 6th impact statement reveals that he is the only path that leads to truth and to eternal life.

Text: John 14

Key Verse: John 14:6

"Jesus answered, ’I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’"

Review: I AM the bread of life

I AM the light of the world

I AM the door (of the sheepfold)

I AM the Good Shepherd

I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Introduction:

Today we are going to focus in on Jesus’, "I Am proclamation, I am the way, the truth, and the life ..." In this section of the Gospel of John we once again see Jesus asserting His divine nature. It’s interesting that once again a question is addressed to Jesus and He answers with a profound reply.

The question was asked by Thomas, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Thomas’ question has been asked probably by 1,000. "How can we know the way?" Men have tried many ways but have found them lacking truth and life. For example:

Man’s Quest:

Greece said …..Be wise, know yourself

Rome said…….Be strong, discipline yourself

Judaism said …Be holy, conform yourself

Epicureanism says…..Be sensuous, enjoy yourself

Education says ….Be resourceful, expand yourself

Psychology says ….Be confident, fulfill yourself

Materialism says….Be acquisitive, please yourself

Pride says….Be superior, promote yourself

Asceticism says….Be inferior, suppress yourself

Diplomacy says….Be reasonable, control yourself

Communism says….Be collective, secure yourself

Humanism says….Be capable, trust yourself

Philanthropy says ….Be unselfish, give yourself

(Swindoll, pages 270,271)

Others have developed dysfunctional ways to view the way of life!

Optimism: By looking through rose-colored glasses, we can convince ourselves that we live on Fantasy Island, existing under cloudless skies and surrounded by oceans of love, affirmation, and support. There’s only one problem -- Lack of reality.

Pessimism: It is easy to turn life into a grim existence. If something bad can happen, the pessimist is convinced it will. The problem here is an obvious lack of joy.

Suspicion: Suspicion is a deeper trench than pessimism. "Everyone is out to get you. You can’t believe anyone anymore. Their major problem? --Lack of trust.

Fatalism: The fatalist says we may as well accept our lot, nothing can be done to change it. "Just bite your lip and endure to the end." "If you can check out of responsibility, do it! Stay uninvolved." What’s the problem here? -- Lack of hope.

Illustration:

Man has been on these quests for years asking, "Which way is the right way", excited when they first enter into their false ways claiming they have found the way only to discover that it was temporal and not everlasting. Then in turn, these individuals do as Rollo Mays states, "It is an old and ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way."

Mankind is looking for the way

up. The problem is they are lost and running in the opposite direction getting further away from God and deeper into chaos and insanity.

Video Clip from In Focus Videos “Road Trip”

We need as Christians, to open up the Word of God and show people which way is up.

We as Christians need to make a stand and quit following the lost. There is a bumper sticker you will see on vehicles which should give us a message.

Don’t Follow Me…I’m Lost

I believe we should stick it above our T.V. set, on Humanistic books on government buildings, at secular Universities because it would save a lot of people a lot of heartache.

T.S. Jesus has answered the question many are asking today: "How can we know the way?" Let’s look at His answer to this question.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

I. Christ is the only way up.

A. The definition and meaning of the way.

1. Greek word Hod-os is defined as progress, a road going somewhere.

2. Tenney defines way, as meaning a path over which or direction in which one moves.

3. In the Old Testament way is used in many instances of God’s ways. His will and command.

a. Deut. 5:33

"Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."

b. Deut. 8:6

"Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him."