Jesus Christ used the phrase “I am!” many times during His ministry. First of all, clear indications of who He actually is and what the reason for His literal rescue operation for humanity is, and also of His direct reference to the Old Testament.
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First an introduction was necessary
After 430 years of living in Egypt and ultimately in slavery, the people of Israel had lost sight of God. This was also true for Moses. Abandoned as an infant, taken in by the Pharaoh’s daughter and also raised according to Egyptian tradition. Moses didn’t have much idea what the true God was.
Moses discovered this at the age of 80 when, after 40 years of exile, he had the “famous” encounter with the burning bush. A fire that still didn’t consume the bush. A voice from the burning bush spoke to Moses. It was the voice of God calling on Moses to return to Egypt to free the people of Israel from slavery. Moses didn’t know what to say to the people, who the God was that asked him. Moses asked the name of God and He answered according to Exodus 3:14:
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
With this, God introduced himself as the “I am!” (Info). A term that Jesus Christ (Info), in addition to his many names, also used several times during his work. This was also the case with the Pharisees who scoffed in disbelief after Jesus told them that Abraham knew Jesus was coming. How could this be when Jesus is only around 30 years old and Abraham lived many centuries ago? Jesus Christ replied to the Pharisees, John 8:58:
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.“
Jesus Christ and His self-descriptions
Even during his ongoing ministry, Jesus Christ repeated the phrase “I am” several times in the form of a metaphor. The following are the succinct passages with the corresponding statements:
John 6:35:
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 8:12:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 10:9:
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
John 10:11:
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 11:25:
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
John 14:6:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 15:1:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman..”
Summary of “I am” expressions
- I am the bread of life
- I am the light of the world
- I am the door
- I am the good shepherd
- I am the resurrection, and the life
- I am the way, the truth, and the life
- I am the true vine
These are seven uses of “I am!” So the number of perfection, as used several times in the Gospel (Info).
The “I am!” for eternity
Just as God, or rather Jesus Christ, presented himself to Moses in the burning bush as the general “I am!” presented, Jesus Christ concludes with His prophecies for the future given to John.
Revelation 22:13:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.“
In Greek, “Alpha and Omega” meant the first and last letters in the alphabet. Jesus Christ expressed that He is from eternity and also for an eternity to come.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:14
Bible verses from King James Version
