"I am" - Sermon for Easter 5

Sermon:

Text:

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who abides in us.

         The first words of our gospel text for today are I am. In greek, ego eimi. It’s also the basis of the name of God, Yahweh, holding the consonants for the phrase in Hebrew. When Moses asks God in the burning bush what he should tell others when they ask for a name, God says, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’”

         I AM, The LORD or Yahweh, meaning, I am that I am, He who gives life, he who be’s. It’s the basis for who God is, creator, and protector.

         In John Jesus himself uses the phrase multiple times, sometimes just as I Am, and 7 other times with continuing phrases. To tell one example of just I am, John 6:16-20 tells the story of Jesus walking on the water to the disciples in their boat during a storm. In our translation it reads, “they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  The It is I, is the same ego eimi, I am. I am, do not be afraid. Jesus reminds them he is the Son of God to give them comfort.

Last week in our gospel lesson we heard another usage of I AM by Jesus. I am the Good Shepherd. This is the 4th of 7 different versions that Jesus uses in the Gospel of John. I am the Bread of Life, I am the Light of the World, I am the gate, I am the good shepherd, I am the Resurrection and the Life, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. And then finally in our Gospel reading from today, I am the true vine.

Each one gives a different image and meaning to who Jesus is for us. Each building upon the other.

“I am the Bread of Life, Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus feeds us, nourishes us, and gives us strength to go out into the world.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Jesus gives us light for our paths, where we go when out in the world, Jesus will lead us.

“I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” Jesus gives us sanctuary. When we need rest from the worries of the world, Jesus offers protection and safety.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus protects and leads us, and shows us the example of how he calls us to work in this world. Just as Jesus laid his life down for us, so to should we lay our lives down for those around us.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.” Jesus promises us that death is not the end, that new life comes to us. Through our faith, Christ has saved us.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It is in Christ that we find meaning, in Christ that we can live. We can confidently go out into the world, to help our neighbors, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, comfort the sick, because Christ shows us the way.

         And our last statement from today’s gospel, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.” And frankly, it feels out of place. They have all seemed to follow one another and build upon the last. And at first I thought, well, shouldn’t this be right by bread? Wine and Bread? That’s a strong connection, or maybe by good shepherd, the examples of workers, shepherds and vineyard growers.

         But, it’s not. It sits instead as the very last one. Jesus spends his teaching building upon each one, and this is the one he chooses to close out his messages using I AM terms.

         And as I was looking at this text I thought, maybe this does make sense. Jesus has given us instructions, and comfort that he walks with us, and now, he shows us where to go, and even more affirmation that we are capable of going there.

         I am the true vine. A grape vine usually has a main vine that the branches come off. Jesus is our main vine, the place we as branches connect to, and what gives us nourishment. Jesus is reminding us yet again, that we have a strong foundation to build upon, a shepherd who watches out for us, bread that nourishes us, and here a vine that gives us life.

Jesus then starts talking about pruning. There is a common interpretation that this is referring to pruning away those who do not believe, but I don’t think it is. I think Jesus is more referring to cutting off that of ourselves which keeps us from bearing good fruit. The sin that holds us from doing what God calls us to. It’s calling us to hear the law that we have failed, and then turn to the gospel that God forgives.

         And hearing that forgiveness, we see that it is only then that we can abide with God. We have to allow God to reach us. We cannot attach ourselves to the vine, the vine can only grow us. We cannot abide with God if we do not see that God already abides with us.

         And so, finally, after all these I AM teachings, it all rounds down to this. God abides with you, God the bread of life, which nourishes, the light of the world, which lights our way, the gate, which gives sanctuary, the good shepherd, who walks with us, the resurrection, which gives us new life, the way, the truth and the life, which shows us where to go, and the true vine, who gives us life. God abides with us, and we then abide with God. And in so doing we are able to bring forth fruit.

         And that’s why Jesus puts this as his last lesson, because he knows where we will be, after his death, resurrection, and his ascensions, no longer physically present with us, it shows us what to do moving forward. Jesus has prepared us, and now, we go out to produce fruit. We go out into the world to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians says this is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

         It’s up to us to share the message of Jesus, to share his I AM statements, and Christ shows us how to do so, by bearing fruit, by showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

         As we get ready for Pentecost and the Spirit sending us out, we can be confident in knowing that with Christ, the true vine, and God, I AM, we can indeed bear good fruit. Amen.