Jitterbugging for Jesus

“I am the way, the truth and the life.”

— John 14: 6

“But Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.”’ 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”: This is my name for ever, and this my title for all generations.”

— Exodus 3: 13-15

When we think of the story of the birth of Jesus, we who are Christians don’t think of the seven-branch golden lamp stand called the menorah (“tree of life”), or the ark of the covenant, or Eden and the creation story, all from the Old Testament.

And yet the Christian New Testament is all tied up with everything in the Old–including the birth story, such as it is, in the gospel of John.

“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold.” From Exodus 25.

The following is adapted from Jesus: A Theography, a wonderful and instructive book of Christology by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola. They refer here to the birth narrative in the gospel of John as “the birth narrative that no one reads at Christmas:

“John’s gospel tells the story of Jesus’ birth in as storyless a way as possible . . .

“John’s birth narrative is structured in the signage of seven I AM metaphors, which function as a menorah that highlights the birth of Jesus just as the seven-branch golden lamp stand called the menorah (“tree of life”) illuminated the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, and the original Tree of Life lit up the garden of Eden.

“The seven I AM metaphorical statements of Jesus in the gospel of John are followed by their corresponding circumstances in the story of Jesus’ birth:

“I am the bread of life.”
— Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means ‘house of bread.’

“I am the light of the world.”
— Jesus was born under the light of the star of Bethlehem.

“I am the door of the sheep.”
— The doors of the guest house were closed to Mary and Joseph, but the gate to the stable was open.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.”

— Baby Jesus was sought by shepherds looking for a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths (used for birth or burial) and lying in a manger..

“I am the resurrection and the life.”
— Jesus survived King Herod’s attempt to kill him.

“I am the way, the truth and the life.”
— Wise men found their way to Him, recognized the truth about him, and defied King Herod’s evil plot.

“I am the true vine.”
— Jesus was born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, which means “fruitful.”

“There is no higher understanding of Jesus’ divinity as ‘The Son of God’ than John’s gospel. There is no fuller understanding of Jesus’ humanity as the ‘Son of Adam’ (or ‘the human being’) than John’s gospel.

“John is the I AM gospel because Jesus appears in His mysterious ‘I AM-ness’ as part of the triune life of the Godhead while Jesus is also present in His concreteness as ‘I am the door.’ ‘I am the true vine.’ ‘I am the Good Shepherd,’ and so on.

“In the gospel of John, Jesus stands with his Head in eternity and His feet in Eden. . .”

“Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is always near.” Philippians 4: 4-5