The Seven “I am” statements

The seven “I AM” statements, the seven signs (miracles) and links with the Old Testament

Seven “I AM” statements

Signs (miracles)

Old Testament links

I am the true vine.”

(John 15:1, 5)

By attaching ourselves to Christ, we enable His life to flow in and through us. Then we cannot help but bear fruit that will honor the Father.

Changing water into wine at Cana

John 2:1-11

1 Kings 17:8-15

2 Kings 4:1-7

I am the door of the sheep.”

(John 10:7,9)

Jesus protects His followers as shepherds protect their flocks from predators.

Healing the royal official’s son in Capernaum John 4:46-54 1 Kings 17:17-24

2 Kings 4:8-37

I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

(John 14:6)

Jesus is the source of all truth and knowledge about God.

Healing the paralytic at Bethesda

John 5:1-15

2 Kings 5
I am the bread of life.”

(John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life

Feeding the 5000

John 6:5-14

2 Kings 4:38-44
I am the good shepherd.”

(John 10:11, 14)

Jesus is committed to caring and watching over those who are His.

Jesus walking on water

John 6:16-24

?

2 Kings 6:1-6
I am the light of the world.”

(John 8:12)

To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.

Healing the man blind from birth

John 9:1-7

2 Kings 6:18-20
I am the resurrection and the life.”

(John 11:25)

Death is not the final word for those in Christ.

The raising of Lazarus

John 11:1-45

2 Kings 4:8-37

If you would like to explore this line of study further can I suggest you visit

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/4469-the-book-john-the-7-signs-and-the-7-i-ams-of-jesus/day/1

The brief commentary on each day of the study plan is illuminating.

 

 

The Gospel of John is the only Gospel that contains all seven of Jesus’ “I am” statements, and each one is significant and had special meaning which only the Jews could understand. There is another “I am” statement in the Book of Revelation, but these “I am” statements in the Gospel of John point back to the Old Testament and also into the kingdom. They actually prove that Jesus is God and was the God of the Old Testament. That’s what the Apostle Paul seemed to understand as well. When God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, He told Moses His name is “I AM,” and “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Ex 3:14b). I AM means the self-existent one and always “being,” unlike we who at one time didn’t exist. Only after birth did we come into being, and we are human, finite beings, but God is and always was, since He inhabits eternity. Paul acknowledged that ancient Israel “all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ” (1st Cor 10:4), which explains why Jesus could authoritatively say, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). The Jews knew what Jesus meant and that’s why they tried to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself from them because it wasn’t His time (John 8:59), so Jesus was before Abraham. Like us, there was a time when Abraham did not exist, so Jesus directly tells them (and us) He existed before Abraham, therefore by application, He must be God (and He is!).

The Word of God is Bread for me,
His Life the Light by which I see,
The Door through which I enter in,
To join the sheep inside the pen.
The Shepherd gave His life for me,
That I might resurrected be.
The Way, the Truth, the Life, the Vine,
Now I am his, and He is mine.

 

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