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There are a number of verses in the Bible that refer to “I Am.”  God spoke to Moses and said that His name was “I Am” (Exodus chapter 3: verse 14) in answer to Moses’ question from the previous verse.  God was declaring that His name was “I Am” which signifies His very essence:  His self-existence, His steadfastness, His eternity, and His unchangeableness.  It encompasses what John Gill wrote in his commentary I Am what I have been, I Am what I presently Am & I Am what I shall be, and shall be what I Am.

To those who think Jesus Christ was just a man, even a good man or a prophet and question the validity of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit: Jesus Himself challenges that stance.  For when Jesus said in John chapter 8: verse 58 “truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”  He was claiming to be God, the same God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush; which if not true was blasphemous and punishable by death under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus chapter 24: verse 16).  The Pharisees obviously thought Jesus was blaspheming because in verse 59 we learn that they wanted to stone him.  Just as the Pharisees did some two thousand years ago you are rejecting His claim that He is God incarnate.

There are many “I am’s” recorded in the Bible to mention but some:-

Seven in Genesis

Twenty one in Exodus

Seven in the Psalms

Numerous references in the books of the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel etc

Seven in Revelation the final book of the Bible

And the following seven in the Gospel of John where Jesus said:-

 

I am the bread of life (John chapter 6: verses 35, 48 & 51)

I am the light of the world (John 8: 12)

I am the door 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)

 

I am the bread of life:-

Jesus Christ was referring Himself  to the manna (bread) that God gave each morning to the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16: 13-31).  The manna sustained the Israelites physically, Jesus will spiritually sustain those who partake of Him.  Just as each Israelite left their tent every morning to gather enough manna to sustain themselves for that day; so each of us has to receive Jesus for ourselves no one else can do it for us.  They can lead us to Him but we as individuals have to accept and receive Him.  Everyone who seeks Him will find Him just as surely as each Israelite in the wilderness found enough bread to eat on a daily basis.

 

I am the light of the world:-

Light was the first thing created by God in Genesis 1: 3 and was the initial step to the creation of life. Light and dark were separated to form night and day.  Jesus is likening Himself with the light at the beginning of creation.  He is the light that brings life, eternal life.  If you follow Him you will not walk in darkness.

 

I am the door of the sheep:-

Jesus Christ is the door to the sheepfold (God’s Kingdom).  No one can get in through any other door.  Other’s who have claimed to know how to enter the Kingdom are thieves and robbers (John 10: 7-10).  In Jesus’s times shepherd’s often used to herd their flocks into stone pens to keep them safe overnight.  The shepherd would sleep across the entrance to protect the sheep from wild animals; and to keep the sheep from straying out into the darkness and getting lost.

 

I am the good shepherd:-

Continuing with the theme of shepherd and sheep Jesus said He was the good shepherd. A good shepherd, usually the owner of the flock or part of the owner’s family, would lay down his life for his sheep.  A hireling wouldn’t he would let a sheep be taken by a wild animal rather than risk himself.  Before David became king he was a shepherd who epitomised what a good shepherd was.  He battled with lions and bears to protect the sheep (1 Samuel 17: 34-36).  Jesus Christ did lay down His life for His sheep or more specifically for the sins of His sheep when He was crucified on the cross.

 

I am the resurrection and the life:-

Jesus is the resurrection, He died on the cross was buried and rose again on the third day.  A resurrection witnessed by many hundreds (1 Corinthians 15: 6).  Jesus was saying that even if we physically die, if we believe in Him we will still have life a resurrection life.

 

I am the way the truth and the life:-

Jesus Christ is the way to salvation, heaven and life.  He was the living embodiment of God’s truth.  Jesus went on to say that no one comes to the Father except through Me:  It is an exclusive statement there is no salvation through any other.  It is what separates Christianity from other faiths.

 

I am the true vine:-

Jesus is the vine and we the believers are the branches.  Just as the vine is the source of life for the branches which bear the grapes; Jesus sustains and nurtures us without Him we can do nothing.  The ‘nothing’ is referring to the fact that without Him we can do nothing worthwhile for theKingdom of God.  Branches cannot sustain their selves and bear fruit they need to be attached to the vine.  Likewise we need to be in constant communion with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Bible quotes from ESV