Who is jesus knowing christ through his i am sayings. Since the statement is not before abraham was i was, it is easy for some moderns reading through certain metaphysical assumptions to conclude that this is a statement of the atemporality of god. Jesus says that i am all you need, needed, and will ever need. Jesus i am statements would have particular significance to the firstcentury jewish listener.
Bible study commentary on jesus the great i am an introduction to the i am s in john s gospel. Not only is jesus the messiah, but hes also the son of god who gives. The gospel of john reveals that jesus is god in human form. No one comes to the father except through me john 14. There are many different names for jesus used in the book of john. Jesus, the author says, conducted his ministry clothed in his coat of old testament colors made, in gods providence, of the promises, prophecies, themes, and ideas that foretold of the messiah. Advance your knowledge of scripture with this resource library of over 40 reference books, including commentaries and study bible notes. And the father himself, who sent me, has borne witness of me. The seven i am sayings of jesus christ recorded in john. Nov 16, 2014 the lord jesus says that his name is i am in john 8. Does i am always refer to god in the gospel of john. May 06, 2016 in the gospel of john, an allimportant phrase, spoken by jesus, is repeated seven times. When jesus spoke again to the people, he said, i am the light of the. Throughout the gospel of john, we see that jesus is god and the reality toward which all of israels history points.
And john talks about the experience he had with jesus many times in his book john. As peter said, salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men. To the learned jew this phrase i am was very significant. They saw jesus walking on the sea and they were frightened. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will. Jesus says i am several times in john s gospel, in a play on. We need to tie this together so look at the seven i am s of israels need in the old testament and compare them with the seven i am s jesus claimed to be, in the book of john. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. This i am statement stresses that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven by any other means than christ himself.
The gospel of john records this repeated phrase i am seven times. I am the way, the truth, and the life desiring god. By trusting him, we can gain an open mind to understand gods message and fulfill his purpose in our lives. John begins with the profound announcement that jesus is the in the beginning creative word of god who had become embodied incarnated as a human being to be the light of life for the world. These revelations made it clear to all that he was claiming to be much more than a rabbi or prophet. In the last message i gave an introduction to the i am series and we looked at moses encounter with the great i am in the burning bush exodus 3. How many times in the bible did jesus say i am answers. We know that no plant or animal or human life on this earth can live without light. And i am the life the eternal life that you will enjoy when you get there. This is a very important verse to trinitarians because it is one of the places we use to show that jesus is god.
The gospel of john, which presents jesus christ in his deity, is sometimes called the i am book. John s gospel provides a picture of jesus unlike any other place in scripture. The word gospel means good news so the book of john contains the good news about jesus who he is, why he. Jesus becomes human as the incarnation of the creator god of israel, to share his love and the gift of eternal life with the world. The 7 i am statements of jesus explained faith island. Jesus said to him, i am the way, the truth, and the life. This logos became flesh and dwelt among men in the person of jesus of nazareth. These passages seem to be more about jesus deity than all the other i am sayings in john.
He regards jesus as a human being who possessed actual flesh and blood, the same as other people. If jesus had merely wanted to say he existed before abrahams time, he would have said, before abraham, i was. Following those discussions, chapter two will begin looking at each of the eight i am statements. Since faith is only as good as the person in whom you place it, it is crucial that you place your faith in the true savior. In the old testament when god called moses to lead. Jan 02, 2020 if jesus had merely wanted to say he existed before abrahams time, he would have said, before abraham, i was. What are the seven i am statements in the gospel of john. Johns gospel, written in greek, often uses plays on words and, in this case, has jesus say i am when the priests. Jesus answered, i am the way and the truth and the life. Is he a mere man, an angel in flesh, or is he god incarnate. Mar 23, 2012 jesus said to him, i am the way, and the truth, and the life.
The greek words translated was, in the case of abraham, and am, in the case of jesus, are quite different. This i am statement stresses that no one can enter the kingdom of. When someone says, i am, it reveals something about their identity. Fesko takes a close look at jesus s i am claims in the gospel of john and guides us to a better understanding of who jesus is. The book of john is also called the gospel of john. Each i am is a description jesus gave of himself and is recorded in johns gospel.
Nevertheless many people still think john made the book of revelation up. We maintain that jesus attributed the divine name of god i am from exodus 3. In addition to these seven miracles, johns gospel contains seven i am. We know the effects of the sun, but we dont exactly know all about it. John s gospel is followed by the acts of the apostles in the new testament of the bible st. The bread of life and jesus said to them, i am the bread of life. There is another i am statement in the book of revelation, but. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. Bible verses about i am bible verses related to i am from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order. Bible study introduction to i ams in john jesus plus nothing. One final implication of this magnificent name, i am who i am, is that this infinite, absolute, selfdetermining god has drawn near to us in jesus christ.
The koine greek term ego eimi literally i am or it is i, is an emphatic form of the copulative verb. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 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. Online scripture 7 i am s of jesus online scripture your definitive source on the web for all things bible related. Because jesus is gods son, we can perfectly trust what he says. Since faith is only as good as the person in whom you place it, it. For example, there are seven i am s in the book of genesis, the first being genesis 15. The answer is very important because it determines where you stand in relationship to the truth. John and you will find out the 7 times jesus says i am asked in the bible. Over and over again in the book of john, jesus said, i am. He says, your father abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day.
Aug 25, 2010 jesus gives the seventh and final declaration of his divine relationship to us. How many times did jesus say i tell you the truth in the book. After this comes the proclamation that this jesus is the son of god sent from the father to finish the fathers work in the world see 4. And in john 15 explains how to get and keep everything he has promised us. Second, jesus said, i am the light of the world john 8. Jesus said to the jews before abraham was, i am john.
The seven i am sayings of jesus christ recorded in johns. And of course, for john, it is not the miracles or even the teachings of jesus that do this. The eighth i am statement in johns gospel david bahn. The seven i ams of jesus what christians want to know. We noted above that john said this, and the angel said it. John s answer to christs identity is an affirmation that jesus is god. Jesus asked this same question to his disciples about what others thought of him and then asked what they thought of him. About what is most important to them and about them. Did jesus declare himself to be god by saying i am.
I am was used to refer to the god of the jews, in the belief that this was the meaning of the hebrew tetragrammaton, yhwh, which was thought to mean i am that i am. Lets read of the lords betrayal and capture as he left the garden of gethsemane in john 18. I love jesus, i am, statements in the book of john. The seven i am sayings help us better understand the divinity of jesus christ.
I am the true vine, and my father is the vinedresser john 15. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. What are the titles of jesus in the gospel of john. The seven i am statements in john grace thru faith. In the gospel of john, an allimportant phrase, spoken by jesus, is repeated seven times.
I am the good shepherd, i am the door, i am the bread of life, i am the way, the truth and the life, i am the light of the world, i am the vine, i am the resurection and the life. What are the seven i am statements in johns gospel made. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Jun 24, 2012 the 7 times that the lord jesus said i am in john s gospel, eg.
Seven times in the gospel of john he uses the expression, i am. Seven i am statements of jesus in the book of john and the. And he was saying to them, you are from below, i am from above. If all of them were written down, i suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.
Each statement gives us a glimpse into gods character and what. Jesus said to them, truly, truly, i say to you, before abraham was, i am. J esus said i am the light of the world, and several other i am statements. When jesus used the phrase i am, he made specific revelations regarding his identity and nature. John s gospel, written in greek, often uses plays on words and, in this case, has jesus say i am when the priests think he is telling them that he is god. John was also the writer of the book of revelation where there are some more i am statements of jesus that are less well known.
Then jesus said to those jews who believed him, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. The 7 times that the lord jesus said i am in john s gospel, eg. Does jesus in fact say that he is gods son, not just infer. Seven i am statements of jesus book of john and the i am statement of revelation. Titles of jesus in the gospel of john jesus christ. John s gospel is a mystical reflection on the word made flesh, jesus christ. Seven i am statements of jesus in the book of john and. Many are familiar with the famous i am statements of jesus recorded in john s gospel. There are three times in the gospel of john when jesus says i am without a predicate nominative. We find the i am statements in the book of john, written by one of jesus disciples named john. Unique to the gospel of john are seven statements jesus begins by saying i am. Light of the world then jesus spoke to them again, saying, i am the light.
If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 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. After brief background from john s gospel this piece will concentrate on these examples from revelation. God had revealed himself to moses with a resounding i am. Why did the soldiers go backward and fall down when jesus. The words chosen by the spirit make it clear that abraham was brought into being, but jesus existed. And all the evidence that is required to prove this statement is found in gods word, particularly in the book of john. What are the seven i am statements in john s gospel made by jesus. Not only is jesus the messiah, but hes also the son of god who gives eternal life to everyone. Below is a list of jesus seven i am statements in the book of john. So, this scene here with pilate, that john says took place at about the sixth hour, took place early in the morning around 6.
The gospel of john is the fourth of the four gospels of the new testament matthew, mark, luke, and john. I jesus have sent my angel i, jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the congregations. This becomes the definition of jesus in johns gospel, that he is the i am of exodus, and if the people were willing to understand his words and actions signs, they would recognize him. In the gospel of john, the central theme is the divine logos, the word that was with god and that was god. And judas, his betrayer, was standing there with them. John 1, new american standard bible nasb the bible app. John s gospel does not include an account of the blessing of the bread during the last supper as in the synoptic gospels e. In this repetition we see the fullness of his character. Each i am is a description jesus gave of himself and is recorded in john s gospel. Jesus completed the statement that was given to moses.
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