What are the seven I AM statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John? from Compelling Truth
The book of John contains seven significant moments where Jesus reveals a part of His character using the phrase “I AM.” This phrase is important because it is one that God used to identify Himself to Moses, and the Jews recognized it as a name for God. When God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, He said to Moses, “‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”‘” (Exodus 3:14). This name for God means that God is the existing one. He had no beginning or end: He Is. He is totally self-sufficient, and His existence is not dependent upon anyone or anything else, emphasizing His divinity and holiness.
The phrase “I am” usually necessitates something afterwards, like “I am love” or “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” but in this instance God does not give something afterwards, nor does He need to define Himself further. Yet you could fill in that blank with attributes of God. Jesus fills in some of these blanks for us in John, showing us that not only is He God, but He is the God who meets all our needs.
I Am the bread of life
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst'” (John 6:35; cf. John 6:41– 51). Jesus is speaking to the crowds who were there when He multiplied the bread and fed the 5,000 men, in addition to women and children. Jesus was trying to convey that unlike the bread that the people ate, He would truly satisfy our hunger for eternity. Like the manna from heaven and the bread He multiplied, His fullness does not run out, but rather is enough for the whole world.
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I am the light of the world
“And again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'” (John 8:12; cf. John 9:5). Jesus is the light of the world. His light exposes the evil acts of the world done in darkness, and His light bears witness against the world. Not only does His light illuminate good and evil, but His light also brings life. Jesus referred to Himself as the light of the world before giving a man who had been born blind sight, proving the truth behind His words with His power and authority over this world (John 9).
I am the door
“So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture'” (John 10:7–9). In this passage Jesus creates a metaphor: we are the sheep and the kingdom of God is the sheepfold. Jesus is the way into the sheepfold. Those who present other ways of salvation are thieves and robbers (John 10:1). Through Him we find pasture, like the psalmist says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3).
