Jesus’s 7 “I AM” Statements
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
For as long as I have been a Christian and reading the Bible, I only recently was reading a commentary on the book of John and learned that this book contains seven “I AM” statements from Jesus that clearly showed that He was the Messiah they had been waiting for. While we are in a different place than first-century Jews encountering Jesus in the flesh, these statements give us a clear picture of who Jesus is.
In Exodus 3:14, God introduces Himself to Moses saying “I AM who I AM.” This phrase translates to Yahweh, Jehovah, or LORD as seen throughout the Old Testament. When Jesus says, “I am the bread of life”, He is using the same name of God, declaring to everyone listening that He is Immanuel, God with us.
Throughout the book of John, Jesus uses this name seven times to tell his followers something important about Himself:
- “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
- “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
- “I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear 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).
- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep […] I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:11, 14).
- “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).
- “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
- “I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser […] I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5).
While these statements were incredibly helpful to point his Jewish followers to the reality that He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, Jesus’s seven “I AM” statements are a beautiful reminder for us of His character and care for us.
We can be satisfied by the Bread of Life. We no longer have to walk in darkness because we walk with the Light of the World. We can enter through the Door to find salvation and security. We are cared for deeply by the Good Shepherd. When we believe in the Resurrection and the Life, we have the hope of eternity with Him. We have access to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, helping us navigate every circumstance we face. When we abide in the Vine, we bear fruit that points others to the love and goodness of God.
Aren’t you so thankful that Jesus came to live among us and reconcile us to God? Spend some time reflecting today on these seven statements, and thank Jesus for who He says He is.