In the gospel of John, Jesus was recorded to have said the seven “I am.” These were personal declarations of Jesus, and they reveal his true identity and his relationship with God and human beings. The seven “I am” statements of Jesus were the following:
- John 6:35 - I am the bread of life: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (NIV)
- John 8:12 - I am the light of the world: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV)
- John 10:7 - I am the gate: “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.” (NIV)
- John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (NIV)
- John 11:25 - I am the resurrection and the life: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die….” (NIV)
- John 14:6 - I am the way and the truth and the life: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)
- John 15:1 - I am the true vine: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (NIV)
When Jesus uttered these statements, Jesus was revealing his true identity: he was God who had assumed the form of a human being. In Exodus 3:14, God revealed himself to Moses and declared: “I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” By saying “I am” this and that, Jesus was telling the people of his time that he was the God of Moses. He was equating himself with the great “I AM” mentioned in the book of Exodus. He was the messiah promised by God to his chosen people.
Jesus was (and is) the bread of life that will sustain them in order to reach the heavenly kingdom of God. He was (and is) the dazzling radiance that will guide them in their journey to the promised homeland. He was (and is) the good shepherd who is ready to die and save his people from sin and destruction. He was (and is) the resurrection and the life, thus, opening the gate of salvation for all. He was (and is) the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies about the messiah for the people – he was (and is) the truth. He was (and is) the savior, the Christ, the Son of the living God. He was (and is) God who is with us!
Note: In the gospels of John and Matthew, there are some more verses that follow the “I am” statements of Jesus. These are: John 8:58, John 10:9, John 10:14-15, John 14:11, John 15:5 and Matthew 11:29.
John 8:58 - I am
“Very truly I tell you before Abraham was born, I am!” (NIV)
John 10:9 - I am the gate
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (NIV)
John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (NIV)
John 14:11 - I am in the Father
“… I am in the Father and the Father is in me….” (NIV)
John 15:5 - I am the vine
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV)
Matthew 11:29 - I am gentle and humble in heart
“… I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (NIV)
