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Monday, May 7, 2012

Yahweh in the Flesh

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

Unveiling the depth of the meaning of the name Yahweh
Yesterday we noted God's statements to Moses in Exodus 6:3 as pointing us to the Chief goal of the Christian walk - knowing God.  We noted that the Patriarchs knew God in terms of His works with Moses then received greater illumination pertaining to His ways. (compare Psalm 103:7) We ended by stating that Christ is the apex of God's revelation in the scripture, since He is God the Way.  We saw all of these connections through the most mentioned name in the Old Testament - Yahweh. 

Today I want us to travel to the Gospel of John, where we see Christ unfold to us the depth of the meaning of God's name "Yahweh".  If the Old Testament canon aims to unfold the breadth of this Holiest of all God's names, then it is Christ in the Gospel of John that unveils its depths. 

How Christ unveils Himself as Yahweh in the Flesh
The Gospel of John is very fond of the number seven.  For instance there is focus upon seven particular signs of Jesus in John 1-12.  Another one of those significant patterns of "seven" is found in the seven places where Christ utter "I AM" statements about Himself.  These seven self-descriptions are assertions by Christ of His Divine nature as he ministers among the people in His human nature.  Take note of the statements in how they unfold the Holy Name "Yahweh" or "I AM").

1. John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

2. John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

3. John 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
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4. John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

5. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies"

6. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life, He who believes in me, thought he were dead, yet shall he live"

7. John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser."

A few thoughts on how we can Cherish Christ as Yahweh in the Flesh through these seven statements
Each statement has enough treasure to merit an entire blog series.  However I will offer a few connecting links that I see through these sayings that makes me want to treasure Christ - Yahweh in human flesh:

First, each statement has Yahweh, God in the Flesh, providing for His people
Second, each statement reveals the Personal concern of Yahweh for His people
Thirdly, each statement gains us access to the unending life of Yahweh

On this third point we see the true intention of Jesus' statements of Himself as Yahweh in human flesh.  As bread He sustains life, as Light He rids the darkness out of life, as the door He brings in Divine Life and as Shepherd He leads us to fellowship with Divine Life.  As the resurrection He is the source of life, as the Way He is the life Himself and as the Vine He grants growing life. 

May you today see in the depths of Jesus Christ as Yahweh in Human flesh.  May you embrace Him, delight in Him and be awed by Him.