During Jesus’s ministry on earth, He said many things that challenged His listeners. In fact, He often spoke in parables, or, as we will see in this article, in metaphors. He used figurative language to relate common objects or concepts with Himself or His Kingdom so that people could better understand His character and purpose.
In the book of John, there are seven times in which Jesus says “I am ____.” Each statement gives us a glimpse into God’s character and what He’s like. One important point: it’s imperative to read these “I am” statements in context so we form an accurate understanding of what Jesus was really saying.
1. Jesus is the Bread of Life
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35)
Jesus had just fed several thousand people with only a few loaves of bread, yet some people were asking for a sign from Jesus to prove He was from God. They reminded Jesus that God gave their ancestors manna (bread) from heaven while they wandered in the desert so they wouldn’t die (Exodus 16:35).
Jesus’s response surprised them: “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32-33)
Like in many cultures, bread was a staple in the diet of the Jewish people, and when Jesus said that He was the “bread of life,” He was saying that, as bread sustains them physically, He would sustain them spiritually. They didn’t need to look elsewhere for spiritual food, for nourishment, for sustenance – HE was their life! All they needed to do was believe in Him.
2. Jesus is the Light of the World
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
Some religious people had just finished accusing a woman caught in adultery. They wanted to ensnare Jesus as well, so they asked Him what should be done with her.
Surprisingly, Jesus responded, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7).
The woman’s accusers left one by one because none of them were without sin themselves. Jesus told her that He wouldn’t condemn her either, so she should go and sin no more.
Jesus then declared that He was the light of the world. He wanted His followers to know that they didn’t have to live in darkness, hopelessness and bondage to sin. If they would follow Him, then He would bring His “light of life” into their lives, transforming them and restoring them with His power.
3. Jesus is the Door
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
Right before this verse, Jesus stated, “All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them” (John 10:8). Clearly, Jesus is teaching that He is the only way to salvation, the only way to the heavenly Father.
Others may come and try to declare that they are the way to life, but they are “thieves and robbers”; Jesus is the only true way (see point six). There is no other door to eternal life except through Him.
4. Jesus is the Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
Sheep and shepherds were commonly known and understood concepts in Jesus’s culture (which is probably why Jesus chose this metaphor). Just like our dog or cat knows our voice, sheep know their shepherd’s voice (John 10:3-5). Sheep want safety, pasture, food and water; it’s the job of the shepherd to guide and protect their flock.
Jesus speaks prophetically indicating that He will willingly lay down His life for people just like a good shepherd does for his sheep. He will give His life because He is good and because it pleases His Father to redeem people back to His Father.
King David declared in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd”. As sheep trust and follow their shepherd, we too can follow and trust Jesus not only for our eternal salvation but also for safety, provision and restoration of our souls. Jesus is our good shepherd.
5. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)
Jesus spoke these powerful declarations to a heartbroken sister whose brother had just died. She told Jesus that if He had been there, her brother wouldn’t have died.
But she wouldn’t have to wait until the final resurrection to see her brother again because the one who embodied the resurrection was standing in front of her, full of power and ready to act. After Jesus stated that HE was the resurrection and the life, He raised her brother from the dead, and many believed in Him.
This verse also teaches us that even though we may die physically, we will live on spiritually in the Lord’s presence in heaven. On the other hand, there will be people who continue to live and never physically die because they are alive when Jesus returns to fully establish His Kingdom on the earth.
The take-away: Jesus is resurrection life—he brings life to the physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually dead!
6. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
There should be no confusion here. This is a bold statement. Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and THE life. There are not multiple ways to God the Father; there’s One. And Jesus Himself is the ONLY Truth.
Any ideas or concepts or philosophies that go against Jesus’ teachings or the Word of God (the Bible) are not truth. Many people seem to be searching for truth, and they’ll go to great lengths to find it; Jesus is the Truth they are looking for. Only in Him do we find true Life!
In John 8:32, Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” He was talking about Himself in this statement. When we come to know Jesus (the Truth), we will find freedom. Jesus sets us free!
7. Jesus is the Vine
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Understanding this important concept helps believers to live fruitful and victorious lives. Jesus describes Himself as a vine and His followers as branches. In order for us to bear fruit (which brings much glory to the Father according to verse 8), we must be rooted and connected to Jesus.
We must remain dependent on Him and resist doing things in our own strength. Why? Because without Him, we can do nothing—nothing of eternal value, anyway.
Tying it All Together
In Exodus 3:13-14, Moses and God were having a conversation. God had just told Moses to go and tell His people that their deliverance was near, but Moses wondered how the people would believe that God sent him:
“Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”
Jesus is a type of Moses because He came to deliver people from their sins and spiritual captivity. John demonstrated that the “I AM” in Exodus was now physically standing in front of people, ready to be their Shepherd, their Door to the Father, their Life, their Vine, their Light, their Bread of Life, and their Truth.
He’s the “I AM”—the God of the NOW—ready to be whatever we need Him to be in our lives.
~ By Jennell Houts
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Comments(37)
Darnell Barkman says
June 17, 2017 at 1:52 pmThanks so much for these thoughts and interpretation. A great and encouraging reminder this morning.
OMEGA KIPEMBA says
April 19, 2019 at 11:10 pmi am so motivated and touched by the passion you have in bringing a word of God to the levels which the simples can comprehend. thanks indeed.
Charlesetta Cummings says
October 14, 2024 at 11:53 pmI just want to know Jesus
SYLVESTER Y COLLINS says
November 19, 2017 at 1:16 amYour interpretation was so clear n bold….thanks for your good work.
emma says
April 15, 2018 at 6:54 pmSome Christians are still confused about the Trinity doctrine. Revealing Jesus as the “I Am” of Exodus 3:14 gives a better understanding. Thanks.
Paul says
December 15, 2022 at 7:00 pmIf Jesus is deity as the Trinity suggests, then the painful sacrifice of Jesus is questioned, could Jesus who you believe is God, how would he feel the pain of mortal humans ? The Bible only ever speaks of Jesus as “the Son of God” ——— “God the Son” is not in the Bible.
Oun says
June 1, 2024 at 7:14 pmGod Jesus is the core of Trinity.
Morgan Funde says
April 29, 2018 at 1:32 pmThe seven I am’s are a revelation to me.
Thank u
Joseph agyiri says
June 6, 2018 at 11:26 amI love this website
EmIl says
June 24, 2018 at 6:15 pmThank you for the notes on the 7 I am of Jesus now I understand what God ‘ character more
Kambule says
September 19, 2018 at 1:35 amGod richly bless you for this wonderful work. Thank you
Joyce Juarez says
October 16, 2018 at 10:19 pmThanks so very much for your assistance Blessings
LuAnn says
March 22, 2019 at 5:03 pmIn John 4:25-26, the Samaritan woman says, “I know the Messiah is coming”. …..Then Jesus declares, “I am he”. Isn’t that an “I am “statement? Some studies regard it as such.
David Governor says
October 28, 2021 at 3:48 pmThis Theological presentation is highly Christocentric :
It increases one’s understanding of Jesus’ Divinity.
Glenn Lewis says
April 5, 2019 at 11:46 amI am blessed to receive from you as l am growing in the lord
Glenn Lewis says
April 5, 2019 at 11:48 amI am growing in the Lord l need your material
JERY LYNCH says
May 4, 2019 at 9:18 pmThank you for putting these verses in context
Gene gaynor says
May 15, 2019 at 9:34 pmThank you for the lesson it made word easier explain.
Kasmiro ofuk says
June 3, 2019 at 3:14 amIt can’t be because the other I am are with predicate and those without predicate are not among the seven I am statement but they all revealed Jesus divinity.
Thanks
Anonymous says
August 14, 2019 at 4:11 pmKeep in mind that the Bible was written in a different language than English and might have different grammatical rules.
Just a reminder.
Anyways it was a good explanation of the 7 I AM statements.
Hamish says
October 2, 2019 at 3:31 amThanks…pretty new to it…rediscovered a bible given to me in 1986 by a dear aunt…(which I scoffed at..don’t think I even cracked open the cover) hit rock bottom and have been reading…lots of strange changes have been going on..all for the better
Lauralee says
October 25, 2019 at 2:34 amA huge thank you…….
Agatha L says
May 7, 2020 at 1:39 amThis eased my search for the 7
“I AMs” . Keep up the good work of God. Thank you. God bless you.
jaco lategan says
September 15, 2020 at 12:24 pmcan you help me every were it stand and I want to know what it means : jesus is the way what do they mean about it
Mthoko says
December 25, 2020 at 9:38 amI thank you so much for the lovely massege
David says
January 1, 2021 at 8:43 amJE7US
sukdev giri says
April 29, 2021 at 11:47 amThank you.it helps me to prepare my teaching,saves my time . also wondering if you had explained it in Hebrew context would be super. any way Blessings from top of the world. yes Nepal.
Akunna says
July 18, 2021 at 12:22 pmVery educative, self explanatory
Emei Ezidinma says
March 10, 2022 at 11:46 pmAfter reading the 7 statements of “I AM” by Jesus, I felt more confident and assured that I made the right decision to be a follower of Jesus. Yes, indeed, he is the WAY, the Truth and the Life. Thanks for sharing
Rose Louise says
April 18, 2022 at 10:51 pm“I am” is the name for God, the one and only source of all life, alpha and omega. There’s only real power and presence in the universe and it never had flesh nor ever will. Lives will change tremendously for all who learns and applies this truth, it will set U.S. free.
Rose Louise says
April 18, 2022 at 10:55 pm“I am” is the name for God, the one and only source of all life, alpha and omega. There’s only real power and presence in the universe and it never had flesh nor ever will. Lives will change tremendously for all who learns and applies this truth, it will set us free.
John Cure says
May 26, 2022 at 4:23 pmThis is wonderful and great. Thanks
James kaseba says
November 4, 2022 at 4:20 pmI thank God for giving me this Man called Jesus, because He makes me strong in every thing
Clarissa says
December 31, 2022 at 9:09 amYou really explained it clearly and simply. Thank you for taking some effort to explain things in the right context. I do appreciate it.
JOSHUA LEE says
January 8, 2023 at 4:48 pmThank you for sharing and supporting the believing community in Jesus.
Lopez says
May 7, 2023 at 5:10 pmThank you, this is so educational.
Asrat says
July 7, 2023 at 12:54 amThis clear interpretation..God bless you 🙏