This Advent season we are looking at "The Questions of Christmas." First, we asked, "How do I get ready for Christmas?" We get spiritually prepared by worshiping, serving, telling others about Jesus, and repenting. Last week, Philip Vaughn asked the question, "What is the miracle of Christmas?" Using the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, he taught us that the miracle of Christmas is that God has a plan for our lives.

Today, we’re looking at a very simple, but also very profound question, "Who is Jesus?" Mom and Dad felt pretty good that they were doing a good job of teaching their three-year-old son about Jesus. On one occasion they asked him where Jesus lived. They were certain their son’s response would be, "In heaven," or, "In my heart." Harrison said, "He lives downstairs in the basement." "What do you mean?" the parents asked. The preschooler replied, "That’s where we store the manger scene."

Who is Jesus? Unfortunately, for many He is only a figure in the traditional manger scene. He’s the one who sort of surfaces every December. He’s the one we half-way include in our holiday celebrations. For many you will get a biblical answer like, "He’s the one born in Bethlehem." Or "He’s the Son of God," both of which, of course, are right answers. But who is Jesus?

The prophets said He was the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Others called Him the Messiah, Teacher, or Rabbi. The angels called Him a Savior who is Christ the Lord. The wise men referred to Him as the newborn King. We can learn a lot about the identity of Jesus by studying what others said about Him. But do you know the best way to answer the question for today? The best way is to go straight to the source and let Jesus answer for Himself.

The Gospel of John provides some first-hand quotes from Jesus lips, quotes in which He reveals His identity. New Testament scholars refer to these statements as the "I am" passages. There are seven of them in John. In each one the "I am" is emphatically stated, giving evidence of the divinity of Jesus. Who is Jesus? This morning, using several of the "I am" passages, we’re going to let Jesus answer the question Himself. So let’s dig in.

Who is Jesus? First, He is the bread of life. "Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’" (John 6:35). Throughout the Scriptures bread is used as a symbol of the basic necessities of life, but not just in the physical realm of food and shelter. When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life," He was saying, "I am the one who will sustain you. I am the one who will meet every need in your life."

The bread Jesus talked about is not like the manna which the people of God picked up and ate while they were in the wilderness. The bread here is nothing less than Jesus Himself. He offers Himself. He Himself is the food, the sustenance which provides us with all the nourishment we need.

Ravi Zacharias tells the story of a woman in his audience who wrote him and invited him to visit her if he could. He was back in the city many months later and paid her a visit. This woman was suffering from AIDS. She hungered for something more than he had found in life. She had found Christ and came to hear Ravi for deeper teaching and enrichment.

When he and a couple of others walked into her apartment, she was totally surprised. Her mom and dad stood next to her with a friend. She looked like a bag of just bones-a pathetic sight. She muttered words of gratitude that they had come. They visited a little while and prayed with her. When Ravi turned to leave, he noticed a book on her table: The Hunger for Significance by R. C. Sproul. In her loneliest moment her greatest hunger was being filled, her hunger for significance. That’s what our faith in Christ can do.

Notice the promise in this verse. "He who comes to me will never go hungry." This is not an abstract statement. It is a personal appeal from Jesus, the bread of life, to enter into a relationship with Him. In your quest to be fully satisfied in life, do you keep coming up short? Then come to Christ. He will satisfy your every need so that you will never be hungry again.

Who is Jesus? Second, He is the light of the world. "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he 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).

The little village of Rattenberg is the smallest town in Austria. It’s getting smaller each year. This year’s population is around 440. The reason for its decline is darkness. Rattenberg is nestled behind Rat Mountain-a 3,000-foot obstruction that blocks out the sun from November to February. But thanks to technology, things are going to get brighter for the town.

An Austrian company has come up with a plan to bring sunshine into the darkness by installing 30 heliostat mirrors onto the mountainside. The mirrors will grab light from reflectors on the sunny-side of the mountain and shine it back into the town. The $2.4 million project is expensive, but community leaders believe the investment will open up new markets in the town.

We celebrate Christmas as the time when God sent His own light into our world through Jesus and offered relief from the darkness of our sins. He calls us who have experienced His forgiveness to reflect His light to those who still live in darkness.

Jesus is the light of the world. These words remind us of the pillar of fire in the Old Testament which guided the people of God as they traveled by night toward the Promised Land.

Notice the promise in this "I am" statement. Whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Do you need guidance with some issues you’re facing? Do you need a light to help you find a way out of your spiritual darkness? Follow Jesus. He is the light of the world. If you follow Jesus, He will guide you out of the world’s darkness and out of Satan’s darkness. As He leads you out of darkness, be sure to share His light with others.

Who is Jesus? Third, He is the good shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep….I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John 10:11, 14). Whether you grew up in the city or out in the country, I believe we all can understand the image of the shepherd and his sheep. He tends them. He cares for them. He protects them. There are many good things that a shepherd will do for his flock.

But there is one major difference between Jesus the Shepherd and the typical shepherd of the day. The good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus did exactly that. If a shepherd died while watching his flock, it was in all likelihood an accident. Not so with Jesus. He died on purpose. He died as a part of God’s sovereign plan for the universe. He died in order to pave the way for everyone to have the opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with God.

It’s not a sheep story. It’s a cow story that I read this week. But the analogy is the same. Cattle rustling is a major problem in Uganda. The Ugandan army daily attempts to reunite cattle with their owners. The biggest difficulty lies in proving ownership. On one occasion an elderly woman approached the army claiming ownership of some cows. She called her cows by name, and to the amusement of the soldiers, as each cow heard her voice, it lifted its head and then followed her. As far as the army was concerned, it was a strong a proof of ownership as one could find.

Jesus is the good shepherd. He knows your name. He knows everything about you-the good and the bad. He loves you. He longs to have an intimate relationship with you. He wants to help you through all your problems in life. Through every passageway in life, He is your good shepherd. Through your childhood years, through your teenage years, through your education and career, and through your retirement, He wants to be your shepherd. And, yes, through the pathway of death, from your sickness to your last breath, He is your good shepherd. Others may fail you. Others may not live up to your expectations. But Jesus will not let you down-ever!

What are the issues you’re facing right now? The good shepherd knows all about them. So allow Him to wrap His arms around you and hold you tightly. He will love you all the way through your struggles and pain.

Who is Jesus? Fourth, He is the way, the truth and the life. "Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’" (John 14:6). All the "I am" statements are spoken with great authority. But-whoa! These words of Jesus are among the most profound words ever spoken. Only God can speak with such authority. And Jesus is God.

Jesus not only shows the way to God. He is the way. The way signifies the link between God and man. The truth points to Jesus’ utter dependability. He is completely reliable in that that He does and all that He is. He is the life. Mere physical existence matters very little. The only life worthy of the name is that which Jesus brings for He is life itself.

I know you’ve probably heard these words many times before. But have you ever pondered the context in which they were spoken. Jesus spoke these words on the evening before His crucifixion. "I am the way"-spoken by one who would shortly hang powerless on a cross. "I am the truth"-when the lies of evil men were about to enjoy a spectacular triumph. "I am the life"-when within a few hours His corpse would be placed in a tomb.

Accepting these words requires faith. If you want a relationship with God, Jesus says you must go through Him. It’s not a matter of how good a person you are. It’s a matter of whether you’re willing to accept these truths by faith, admit you’re a sinner and can’t save yourself, and invite Him to come into your heart and change your life.

On 60 Minutes, Dan Rather interviewed Jack Welch, the outspoken former CEO of General Electric. At the end of the interview, Rather asked Welch, "What’s the toughest question you have ever been asked?" Welch replied, "Do you think you’ll go to heaven?"

When asked how he had answered that question, Welch continued, "It’s a long answer, but I said that if caring about people, if giving it your all, if being a great friend counts-despite the fact that I’ve been divorced a couple of times, and no one’s proud of that. I haven’t done everything right all the time. I think I got a shot. I’m in no hurry to get there and to find out anytime soon."

Welch’s comments are so typical. People think that if they do more good in life than bad, then they will go to heaven. No, getting to heaven involves a personal relationship with the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I remember when I was a little boy, my family walked over to Concord Elementary School in Anderson where each of us was given a sugar cube with pink syrup on it. Do any of you remember what I’m talking about? It was a serum that had been developed by Dr. Jonas Salk to keep us from getting polio. Did we turn up our noses and say, "I don’t really think I want to avoid polio this way? I’m going to wait until another means is made possible." That would be crazy. That’s the sense in which we have to see what God has done for us in Christ.

Suppose I were to offer you a wonderful new home, fully furnished with everything you could ever want-on one condition. You must use this key to get into the front door. In a sense, that’s what God has done for us in Christ. He has provided for all people the way to enter His home in heaven. And that key is Jesus Christ. God has given you the opportunity to know Him, to live with Him now and in heaven forever and ever.