1- THE GATE

Jesus said, ‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full'.  
(John 10:9-10) 

A door leading to life! What a wonderful thought! And what joy awaits us as we step through it: freedom to come and go and to find rest. There are no special skills needed to unlock this door, and yet we spend a lot of time searching for the key. Perhaps the key you have been looking for seems just out of reach. Perhaps you have been afraid to trust, fearing what may be asked of you. Perhaps you feel that the opportunity has been missed or has somehow passed you by. But with Jesus, the door is wide open. He only asks you to trust him… and enter. 

2- THE BREAD

Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6:35)

Jesus has just fed 5,000 people - an amazing miracle! But now he tells people that he is actually far more than just the provider of practical things. Good as these things are, only God can really satisfy our deep hunger and thirst. So the question is: do you just want help from God or do you want God? Do you just want things from His hands, or do you truly want to seek His face?

3- THE LIGHT

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’  (John 8:12)

When we walk with Jesus in this life, we’re called to walk out of the darkness and into his marvellous light – a light which brings us clarity and helps us see things as they really are – not as they appear to be. Let’s seek him first each day, and watch as he illuminates the next step, giving us vision and direction. Jesus shines into our darkness and the darkness cannot defeat him! 

4- THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’  (John 11:25-26)

By his death and resurrection, Jesus has removed the barrier between life and death – our sin. Having done so, he calls us to come out of the grave but we, like Lazarus, have to respond to his invitation. When we accept his gift in humble obedience, we can begin to know the true fullness of life that only Jesus can give. But what about those graveclothes? Lazarus was alive; Lazarus had come out of the grave; but he was still hindered by the trappings of the dead. He had to surrender the grave clothes in order to be set free. In order to live a full life we need to invite the Holy Spirit to help us identify and then remove the graveclothes, that we might be free to be the people Jesus created us to be.

5- THE VINE

Jesus said, ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’  (John 15:5)

We are not those who visit the vineyard to admire the vine. We are in the vine. We are actually the branches of the vine! A vine cannot be a vine without branches. But a branch cannot be fruit-bearing if it is not joined to the vine. When the two work together, it produces wonderful fruit. Jesus wants to work with you to produce really good fruit. So the question is: how do you connect with him? And how can you remain in him so that his life can flow through you?

6- THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.’  (John 10:14-18)

Jesus says, 'I am the Good Shepherd' - I know you by name. Trust me. Follow me. But it’s not just about us. Other sheep are looking on from the hillside or travelling in the opposite direction. They are also known by name and precious to the Good Shepherd. Who around you is wanting to discover more about the Good Shepherd? Who has turned away, listening to the calls of other voices? Jesus knows the name of each person he has placed on your heart just as he knows you too.

7- THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me… Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ (John 14:6,12-13)

As we look around us, there is much to cause us anxiety. We often feel out of control and uncertain which way to turn. But Jesus promises us that with him, the path is open, it is reliable and trustworthy. And it always leads to life because it leads to the Father, who made us and prepares a place for us.

As the old song puts it:
‘I know who holds the future and he holds me in his hand,
with God things don’t just happen, everything with him is planned,
so as I face tomorrow, with its problems big and small,
I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to him my all.’ 

As you face tomorrow, what are you giving Jesus?
What do you want to ask him for?