WHEN JESUS SAID, “I AM” -JESUS IDENTIFYING HIMSELF

“...if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
~ John 8:24

Book of John is the book that declared who Jesus Christ is!

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1. Israel and I AM

a. Christians: “Jesus is God.” Internet:
“When did Jesus ever declare himself to be God?”
b. It is not an easy thing to say, “I am God”. Saying it does not make it so.
c. Moses: Who are you? “I AM THAT I AM” - Exo 3:14, 6:3The Eternal, self-Existent One
d. In the beginning was God, the Word - Gen 1:1, 2:4, 15:2,4,7, John 1:1
e. When Jesus came in the flesh, he declared to be the pre-Existent one  John 8:54-59
f. God created Israel, showed himself to them in power, to later show himself in person

2. “I am the bread of life” – John 6:35

a. He multiplies loaves and fishes – John 6:14, then says “I am...” John 6:35
b. God gave manna to Israel (Exo 16), but they needed Him - John 6:25-35, 47-51
c. It was never about literal eating bread, but faith in words - Deu 8:3, Luk 4:4, John 6:63

3. “I am the light of the world” - John 8:12

a. The light of the world before the Sun  Gen 1:3, 2 Cor 4:4, 1Ti 6:16, John 1:4-5, 9
b. God gave Israel light in the dark, a lamp for their feet - Psa 119:105, Isa 49:6, 60:1-3
c. Jesus came to bring light on God - John 3:19-21, 12:44-46, Rev 21:23-25

4. “I am the door of the sheep” - John 10:7

a. God led Israel like sheep, but they went astray – Isa 53:6, Ps 79:13, 95:7, 100:3
b. A warning against false teachers and leaders (shepherds) - Eze 34:1-10, Jer 23:1-2
c. Jesus is the only way into the pasture (promised land to Israel) - Psa 23:2, Rom 15:8

5. “I am the good shepherd” – John 10:11

a. Jesus claims to be God b/c God is Israel’s shepherd: Jer 23:3-8, Eze 34:11-18 & 28-31
b. Israel are the lost sheep - Mat 10:6 & 15:24, there is a remnant – Lk 12:32, Matt 26:31
c. Peter writes his letters to these people about their Shepherd - 1Pet 2:25

6. “I am the resurrection and the life” – John 11:25

a. Lazarus’s death was so Jesus could display God’s glory - John 11:1-7
b. Jesus is not teaching his death, burial, and resurrection, but proving his deity - Jn 11:27
c. He performs this miracle as a sign for unbelieving Jews: John 11:41-42, 1 Cor 1:22

7. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” – John 14:6

a. The way = hearing and following the commands of Word Ps 119:33-35, John 14:12, 15
b. The truth = found in Jesus, the Word of God – Psa 119:160, John 17:17
c. The life = Jesus is God, who grants eternal life (found in the word) - 1Jn 1:1, John 5:24

8. “I am the true vine” – John 15:1

a. Israel often referred to a vineyard in prophecy – e.g., Isa 5:1-7
b. The believing remnant are the branches - John 15:1-5, Mat 7:16-21, 12:33, 2Pet 1:8
c. Their fruit is important: their fruit requires faith and works - John 15:2 & 10, Eze 36:27

9. Jesus is the I AM

a. The point of the book of John is to show that Jesus is God - John 20:30-31
b. All of these “I am” ‘s are direct statements from Jesus declaring himself to be God
c. Jesus, saying I AM is proof that he is God, but requires knowing the word - Col 1:16-17
d. When Jesus was arrested he declared twice who he was – Isa 43:10, John 18:1-9
e. They had only to believe. As we know, we must always ask... “Believe what?”
f. For Israel, it was, Who is Jesus? Is he God manifest in the flesh? Jesus said, “I AM”
g. Now, the whole world must know what he did by the cross.

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Written by: danwillie

Category: News for Bereans

Published: 25 January 2026

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• Christ
• IAM
• Book of John

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