If you have not already done so, be sure to read Hope, Part 1.
“I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self.” ~ Jesus. (John 6:35, 48, 51)
“I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in. I am the world’s Light.” ~ Jesus. (John 8:12, 9:5)
“I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find [provision and protection]. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” ~ Jesus. (John 10:7-10)
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.” ~ Jesus. (John 10:14-16)
“You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all.” ~ Jesus. (John 11:25-26a)
“I am the [Path], also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!” ~ Jesus. (John 14:6-7)
“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” ~ Jesus. (John 15:1-4)
Jesus said those things. He’s an audacious God doing outrageous things. He makes bodacious claims. He then fulfills them. He is those things: Touchable, tangible, measurable, provable. He knows all your “I am’s” intimately. He constantly contends for your highest possible good. He knows your heart. Why not give it to Him right now—for the first time or again.
