Jesus made several “I am” statements that tell us who He is!
• “I am the bread of life.”
• “I am the light of the world”
• “I am the good shepherd.”
• “I am the door.”
• “I am the resurrection and the life.”
• “I am the way … truth … and the life.”
• “I am the vine.”
There’s a lot of crazy information out there today about Jesus. Get it from the internet, or from a media outlet, or from some published resource … you can find almost anything out there that you want to believe! And even though there’s a good chance the information isn’t true, people will be spreading that information nonetheless! That’s why it’s more important than ever that you know what the Bible has to say about Jesus Christ. When you rely on the truth of God’s Word to ground you in your faith, you will be able to trust God in any situation!
Jesus claimed to be God! He really did! And that’s one fact that can be proven in the Bible. Jesus actually claimed that He was the “I am” that God had called himself in the Old Testament.
In Exodus 3:14–15 we read,
“God said to Moses, ‘I am that I am.’ And he said, ‘You must say this to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘You must say this to the Israelites, “The LORD— the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.”’
And then in John 8:59, Jesus said,
“I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!”
Jesus also made other “I am” statements of himself:
“I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.” —John 6:35
“I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” —John 8:12
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” —John 10:11
“I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture.” —John 10:9
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies” —John 11:25
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” —John 14:6
“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.” —John 15:1
Q. How can knowing these “I am” statements about Jesus make a difference in your life?
Q. Which one of the “I am” statements speaks most clearly to you at this point in your life? Why?
The leaders of other religions are dead (Confucius, Buddha, and Mohammad), but Jesus is alive! Jesus continues to be the “I am” because of his resurrection from the dead. Because Jesus is the “I am” and is alive today, He is continually working in each one of our lives!
In John 1:1–5, 9–14 we read:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
“The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children—children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.
“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.”
Q. According to this passage in John, who is Jesus, and what is He doing?
In Colossians 1:15–20, we read,
“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
Q. From Colossians 1:15–20, I learn that Jesus …
Hebrews 1:1–3 tells us,
“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Q. From Hebrews 1:1–3, I learn that Jesus …
“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:5–11
The Message version of the Bible presents these verses in this way:
“Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.”
Q. From Philippians 2:5–11, I learn that Jesus …
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end!” —Revelation 22:13
Q. From Revelation 22:13, I learn that Jesus …
Sometimes it’s hard for people to accept the fact that Jesus is God because they can’t see Him. “Doubting Thomas,” one of Jesus’ Disciples, was like that. We find his story in John 20:24–29:
“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he replied, ‘Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!’
“Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.’
“Thomas replied to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
Q. What convinced Thomas?
Q. What doubts do you have about Jesus?
Q. In what ways have the scriptures we’ve looked at in this lesson helped you?
Application
Q. How can the truth of who Jesus is influence your life on a day-to-day basis?