The Person of Hope: “I Am”

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus made seven “I am” statements. In making these statements, Jesus intentionally used the title of the eternal and self-existent God revealed throughout the Bible. I AM is the title God gave to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14), and it is the Hebrew word for “He is” or “He exists.”

The God of the Bible, the God of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has no name like the other gods of antiquity. He is I AM. The One who is – the foundation of all beings, the Creator and sustainer of life. The uniqueness of God, the fact that there is no other god, means God does not need a “name” that distinguishes Him from other gods. He is, and He alone is the source of our hope.

How does it change how you see things when you realize that hope is something you can understand and personally relate to your own experiences?

The Power of Hope: “I Am the Resurrection”

The power that spoke the universe into existence is Jesus Christ. He is the power that caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the mute to talk, the dead to live, the storms to calm. The power of Jesus Christ is dedicated to our deliverance, forgiveness and salvation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ “is the power of God for [the] salvation” of all who believe (Romans 1:16). Jesus promised that because He lives, we will also live (John 14:19). This is our hope – Jesus Christ will freely forgive our sins. We will live with Him in heaven for all eternity.

Do you connect Jesus’ power to His Resurrection as the Scriptures do? What practical help and hope do we have as Christians when we do?

The Prerequisite of Hope: “Do You Believe This?”

Many things are unattainable, but we can all believe in Christ. These vital Scriptures tell us so:

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name. —John 1:12

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household. —Acts 16:31

Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. —John 5:24

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. —Romans 10:9–10

Faith is simple. Faith is a decision based on evidence. Again, have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ? Have you had a moment when you made a conscious, willful decision to turn to Him? If not, what’s holding you back? Will you do that right now? Who will be the first person you tell about your decision?

Why should the truth about the Resurrection compel us to ask those around us the same question Jesus asked Mary and Martha?

So often, we miss opportunities to engage others in Gospel conversations. Make a list of reasons why you might hesitate to share the Gospel of Jesus:

Whom do you need to ask? Whom can you pray for right now who needs to hear? Will you pause to pray for that opportunity? Will you ask the Lord for boldness?