The “I AM” Statements of Jesus.
What are the “I AM” statements of Jesus? In the introduction to this series, Ray provides context for the 7 statements and their significance.
The “I AM” Statements in John’s Gospel
When we meet someone for the first time, we generally know very little, if anything about them. Over time, because we spend time in their company, we will learn significantly more and may even develop a life long friendship. Likewise, the more time we spend learning about Jesus, the deeper our relationship with Him will become.
In the gospel of John, we find a remarkable series of statements made by Jesus that help us understand His identity. For instance, in each of the statements, Jesus uses a metaphor to reveal a new aspect of His character and His abilities. Consequently, each statement has deep significance for our understanding of who Jesus is. Therefore, the statements increase our ability to relate to Jesus appropriately.
The Background to the 7 “I AM” Statements
The statements explain the divine nature of Jesus but find their roots in the Old Testament. God is a spirit being and is almost incomprehensible to us. Unless He chose to reveal Himself to us, we would have a very limited knowledge of Him. (Romans 1:20) However, the God of Creation and the universe reveals Himself in ways that we can understand. Jesus, the Son of God, is God in the flesh. Without doubt, the 7 “I AM” statements help us to recognize that.
The Bible is an unparalleled collection of books that are intricately linked. The Jewish people were very familiar with the books of the Old Testament, and Jesus referred to them frequently.
How God Introduced Himself
The I AM statements would have been understood by Jesus’ disciples and listeners to be linked to Exodus 3:13-15. Here God introduces Himself to Moses as “I am who I am.”
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
The statement, which could be translated “I exist,” suggests God’s eternal existence.
When we read the verse in context, we see that Moses has been called to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Moses wants to be clear who he is delivering the message on behalf of. So the voice from the burning bush reveals Himself as the God of the Israelites and of their ancestors including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When He says to tell them:
“The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me..”
He is reminding them of His covenant relationship with their forefathers. This would, of course, carry great weight with the Israelites.
Jesus the “I AM”
To the astonishment and anger of the Jews present, Jesus confirms that He is the “I AM” in John 8:58.
Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!
So, with this statement Jesus is claiming eternal existence. He is making it abundantly clear that He is God manifest in flesh, removing any doubt about who He believes He is when He answers the Jews. His claim infuriates those listening, who begin picking up rocks in order to stone Him for blasphemy. However, Jesus slips away.
Without doubt, when Jesus repeatedly describes Himself in the 7 statements as the “I am…” He is claiming divinity. He is claiming to be the God of the ancestors of the Jews. He is claiming to be the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us.
What are the 7 “I AM” Statements?
Over this series of posts, we will examine each of the 7 statements in greater detail. Jesus describes Himself as follows:
- “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35-51)
- “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
- “I am the door (or gate) of the sheep (John 10:7-9)
- “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11-14)
- “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
- “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
- “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1-5)
As we examine each of the statements, we will discover that there is a definite pattern. In each one, Jesus makes an “I am” statement, introduces a metaphor, then explains what He means. In addition, Although the metaphors may relate to Jewish culture, they are simple enough that we can understand their meaning 2,000 years later. We still have doors, shepherds, lights, bread, vines, and so on today. It does not require a theological degree to comprehend what Jesus is saying.
Above all, the illuminating series of statements are self-revelatory. They come directly from the mouth of Jesus, and help us to understand what it is that He wants us to know about Himself. Through the metaphors Jesus shares with us clear concepts that He wants us to know about Himself and our relationship with Him.
In conclusion, although Jesus made many self-revelatory statements that are recorded for us, the 7 “I AM” statements stand out in a unique way, allowing us to comprehend something of the mystery and complexity of our loving Creator God. We can be thankful that John was such a faithful eyewitness of the life of Jesus, and was inspired by the Holy Spirit to record these teachings for us.
Why do you think Jesus used these metaphors? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Ray Marshall
Ray Marshall was born in Scotland but emigrated to Canada in 1977 where he met his wife Kelly. In the 1990’s, Ray and Kelly served as missionaries in both Ireland and Ecuador, and after returning to Canada, they served as church planters in Belleville.
Between 2009 and 2014, Ray and Kelly spent several years teaching ESL in China. Ray currently works primarily for the Navigators of Canada as a community mentor, reaching out to international students; visiting scholars and professors; and immigrants.
He has also been providing Digital Media support for FBHInternational, and HopeStreamRadio since 2011.
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