The 7 I Am's of Jesus

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and this is because the Scriptures explicitly affirm that a person who believes on Jesus must follow Him and pick up their cross daily. Discipleship is leaning on God in everything we do and say, and trusting that He is in total control.

Who is Jesus?

Unfortunately, many people do not know who Jesus is. Some think he was a good man, some think he was a lunatic, while others think he was a traveler of the world. But those who have studied the Scriptures know who He is: both God and man.

God's word makes no guesses as to the divinity of Jesus. Multiple verses assure any critical reader that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh, who was without sin, who ministered on Earth for about 3.5 years, who died for the sins of the world, who was resurrected after 3 days, and who now sits at the right hand of the Father.

John writes: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning" (John 1:1-2, NIV). You see, He has always existed.

In verse 14 of the same chapter, John writes: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (v. 14).

I Am

When Moses saw God in the burning bush, and God said he was sending Moses and the people to Egypt, Moses asked, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3: 13, ESV).

God answered, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”(Exodus 13:14-15, NIV).

Jesus was in the burning bush! He did not reveal Himself because he had yet to come to earth in the flesh.

The 7 proclamations of Jesus

Jesus frequently used metaphors when teaching. The Jews and early church were more familiar with metaphors than Western cultures are to this day.

Jesus testified on Himself thus: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35, NIV).

Now, anybody could make a statement like this, right? But how would they back it up? Well, Jesus provided such proof. Yes, He actually fed 5,000 in the wilderness, twice!

In John, Jesus also 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, NIV). How did He prove to people He was the light? We read in John chapter 9 that Jesus healed a man born blind.

Again in John, Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, 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, NKJV).

Here, Jesus tells those who are willing to listen that He is the only way to heaven.

In the very same chapter 10 of John, Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 1As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15, NIV). Jesus proved this to be true when he was crucified on a cruel cross at Calvary.

In John chapter 11, Jesus said to Martha, "‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:25-26, NIV). Jesus later proved this after rising from the dead 3 days after being crucified.

In chapter 15 of John, Jesus testified, "I am the true vine" (John 15:1, NIV). We who believe on Him are the branches and He sustains us, and empowers us to do His will and works.

But wait, there's more!

Two other times in the Scriptures we see the I Am. However, like the other 7 proclamations, these are not metaphors, but rather are Jesus' claims of who he is. The Pharisees were claiming that Jesus was possessed by a demon!

The response of Jesus reveals a lot about Him. "First, he replies, "I am not possessed by a demon,’ said Jesus, ‘but I honor my Father and you dishonor me' (John 8:49, NIV).

Then, several verses later He tells the Jews, "Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ (John 8:58, NIV).

Did you catch the distinction? Abraham was, meaning he had died. But Jesus said he was before Abraham and still is! At this revelation, the Jews picked up stones to kill Him, because Jesus claimed to be God, but he fled the Temple, as this was not His time to die.

Finally, when the time was near to die for the sins of the world, Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the soldiers and Judas appeared to betray him.

"Who is it you want?” Jesus asked (John 18:4, NIV). Jesus knew exactly who the mob was and what they wanted.

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied (v. 5).

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground (v. 5b).

These men fell down because of the power of God at work. Jesus was demonstrating that the Father was in control and that He was surrendering to the mob voluntarily.

They asked Jesus again who he was and "Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me” (John 18:8-9, NIV).

It is my prayer that you will come to know who Jesus is, believe on Him, and follow Him as a fully devoted disciple.