Today, we bring to a close our series on the seven "I am . . ." statements found in the gospel according to Saint John. As we have learned, these claims were deeply rooted in the Old Testament. As a matter of fact John uses the name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses was on the mountain, God spoke to him from the bush and said, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ''I Am has sent me to you.''" In John''s gospel--Jesus speaks these words not only to the nation of Israel--but to a wider audience--the world.

We have read and reflected on these awesome claims:

I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35) 
I am the Light of the World (John 8:12) 
I am the Gate for the sheep (John 10:7) 
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) 
I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) 
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

Then as if to remind us that all the "I Am''s" before signify an intimate--personal and day-by-day--moment-by-moment relationship with God--Jesus declares "I am the Vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5)

Near the Garden of Gethsemane is a temple, and the outer wall of this temple is decorated with a huge golden cluster of grapes. As Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room, they probably passed by this temple, and this may have been the image that inspired Jesus'' words in John 15 about the vine and the branches.

Everyone who heard this analogy understood it. A vine supplies the necessary food, nurture, and environment for a branch to live and blossom. It is only when we are connected to Christ the vine that our lives remain healthy and full of vitality. It is a reminder that we are not the bread--the light--the door--the shepherd--the life--the way--we are only a witness to the One who is all of these and more. Christ is the center of our faith. We tell people where we have found bread and life. We declare that we belong to him. As branches are an extension of the vine--so we are an extension of Christ.

When Jesus declares, "I am the Vine, you are the branches," he is reminding his disciples that there can only be one Number One priority in our journey of life. This one priority sets the tone for the rest of life.

You may know the story of a young man who went to a Hallmark card store. He looked through the cards. He finally found the perfect card. This card''s verses expressed his deep love and devotion for the special girl of his life. He then told the clerk at the register, "I need six of these."

You can''t have six priorities. There must be one that ranks above all the others. Jesus has already taught the disciples, "No man can have two masters."

One of my favorite movies is City Slickers starring Jack Palance, known as Curly, and Billy Crystal. Perhaps you remember that three New Yorkers go out west to unwind--and to find themselves anew. Jack Palance laughs and says: "You guys come out here every summer and you all have the same problem. You spend 50 weeks a year getting knots in your stomach and you think two weeks here will solve all your problems. You don''t get it, do you?" He pauses and then says: "Do you know what the secret of life is?"

Billy Crystal says, "Nope. What is it?"

Palance replies: "One thing--just one thing. You stick to that and everything else doesn''t mean a thing."

Billy Crystal says, "Wow! One thing ! That''s great--but what is that one thing?"

Jack Palance grins and says, "That is what you turkeys must figure out!" Jesus shares the "one thing" his disciples will need to do and be--in order to share in a God-shaped life.

In the late 1980s a fire destroyed a building on the lower east side of Manhattan. An alarm was sounded and the trucks and personnel arrived in plenty of time to fight the fire. The exit doors worked properly. The steps were clear. The people got out of the building quickly and orderly. However the fire burned out of control and the building had to be demolished. When the firemen arrived, the hoses on the wall were installed properly. There were hoses hundreds of feet in length--clearly sufficient to put the fire out. It was discovered too late, however, that the city water line had never been connected to this part of the system. It was a deadly oversight.

To live a human life disconnected from the living God is tragic as well. Jesus did more than come to live among us. That is only the beginning. His mission was designed to allow us to live with him--and he with us. We are to abide with him. Abiding is a verb--not a noun. It signifies action and life--giving and receiving. It signifies something is flowing in the pipeline.

This is the perspective and principle that Jesus shares in our lesson today. He is summarizing all that he has taught so far.

A.  What good is bread unless it is eaten? 
B.  What good is light if it does not lead us from darkness? 
C.  What good is a door unless it is opened and we go through? 
D.  What good is a shepherd unless we follow and listen? 
E.  What good is the assurance of eternal life if it does not impact the way we live every day of our life? 
F.  What good is truth unless it informs our reality? 
G.  What good is a way unless by faith we actually trust someone to lead us?

All these great "I Am" statements exist to connect us to God. "In Him we live and move and have our being. We are God''s offspring."

In 1988, a wrestler for the United States Olympic team, who had just received a gold medal was asked the secret of his success. He replied, "I don''t have a secret. I don''t let anything come before my physical training and mental preparation. I refuse to be distracted by anything else on the face of the earth." 

Jesus was 2,000 years ahead of this approach to life when he taught in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

From my heart to your heart--can I tenderly ask you to consider the following question? Is there anything or anyone that is in competition with God''s priority claim on your life?"

You see, we love God with all of our heart because God knows that devotion given to any person or thing besides God can bring distraction and damage in our spiritual pilgrimage. Today once again, fix your eyes upon Jesus, for he alone is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. We cannot serve God and mammon. God is waiting for you to come back to his arms again. Take time out for God and with God.

The distinguished preacher, R. Maurice Boyd writes:

The choosing of one''s priorities brings a sense of peace. An awareness of what one is called to do makes the big decision for us, and making the big decision makes many of the little ones. If I am a Christian, for example, I don''t have to discover a new set of values every day. Being a Christian is enough to decide many questions of behavior and morality. What is left for me--is not to discover new answers--but to be obedient and faithful to the truth I already know."

The only way to do that--is to remain connected to the ONE--who is the source of our faith--Jesus Christ. Yes, having connections is fine and dandy. However, without being connected to Christ, it is utterly null and void.

You and I live in the period of history where we have access to more information than ever before. We have so much information that it produces what has been called the "Paralysis of Analysis." It was the poet T. S. Eliot who wrote:

Where is the wisdom--we have lost in knowledge.

Where is the knowledge--we have lost in information.

The beauty of our faith is that God gave us more than information--he gave us Himself. He gave us more than rules and outward appearances. He gave us a relationship with him. Colossians 2:10, "In Him you have been made complete." Only he can satisfy your deepest longing and bring order to your innermost being. In Jesus Christ, God''s word became flesh. He is alive!

About eighteen months ago the refrigerator at the parsonage had to be replaced. So we went to Reliable Home Supply and got a new one. It was delivered and put into place by two strong fellas. Before they pushed it into the corner I notice a tag which said: "No good if detached." Can you think of any other place this tag should be placed? Amen and amen.