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"Just What I Needed!"
What we want and what we need are very often not the same thing. If we’re not careful, our “wants” are mostly physical while or “needs” are actually more spiritual. While He walked on the earth, Jesus made certain claims for and about Himself, and these claims relate directly to what we need to insure a righteous life here and an abundant life in the hereafter.
“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). The very idea of bread speaks to the business of maintaining life. In fact, when used in its generic sense “bread” means the means for sustaining life. That fact is true spiritually as well as physically. Jesus is the bread of life. Just as we must have regular meals to sustain our lives physically, we need the spiritual sustenance that comes from imbibing the refreshing spiritual nourishment which comes from Jesus Christ. “Desire the sincere milk of the word” (II Peter 2:2) is another way of saying that we need spiritual nutrients in order for the spiritual part of our being to be nourished. While physical nutrients are necessary, it’s foolish indeed to leave off the bread and butter that is spiritual.
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Nobody wants to wander around in the darkness. It’s almost impossible to keep your equilibrium while stumbling around in the dark. Only a fool walks about in darkness (Ecclesiastes 2:14). And that’s true spiritually as well. Strangely, some people who would not dare spend their lives roaming around in a dank and dark world, don’t seem to mind at all to drift around spiritually without any sense of direction or any light to guide. Jesus is the light. We need illumination–about who we are, about where we are and and where we need to be–and, most importantly where we will spend eternity after this physical existence is concluded. When the night is dark, we can come to the light. When the way is dim, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. When we don’t know where to turn, there’s a switch we can flip. But we have to have some spiritual inclination to be aware of what we need. How sad that far too many wander aimlessly through life by doing whatever they want when in actuality, they’re walking in darkness toward a terrible cliff at the end of the road. Only as we walk in the light is fellowship with God possible (I John 1:10).
“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). This is an idiom which is actually saying, “I am the true and living way.” We need direction. We need a highway (Isaiah 53:6), and not just a way “that seemeth right unto a man” (Proverbs 14:12), but a way that leads to where we need to go. How sad to see the route of pursuit most people are taking. Where does it lead? It may be a broad way, well lighted, without any potholes, with smooth lane and a well lighted course; but this broad way leads to certain disaster for the soul that follows it–no matter how enjoyable it may seem at times. And while the “other way” is narrow and difficult to negotiate, it is, in reality, the only way to go, for it leads to life eternal (Matthew 7:13-14).
“I am the door” (John 10:9-10). We like having access–especially to famous, powerful, or influential people. Jesus is the most powerful being who ever existed; ;and we have access to the Father by Him. “I am the door,” said Jesus, “if any by me enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.” Sometimes we act like dumb sheep–going somewhere, but we don’t know where; just striking out on some adventure without consideration as to where it will lead; just wandering about going whatever direction we choose to go. “All we like sheep have gone astray...” and “everyone has gone his own way” (Isaiah 53:9). Oh, how we need a route of access to the fold, a Shepherd who cares; how desperately we need to “pass under the rod” so that our sins can be spotted and our needs met (Ezekiel 20:37). He is the door–the entry to all that is good, all that is lasting, all that is reasonable. By Him only do we “...have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).
You see, what we need is that wonderful forgiveness, motivated by the love of God, secured by the Son of God, revealed by the Holy Spirit of God. And every bit of it comes in the personified life of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. “Just what I needed!”
