John the Apostle declares toward the end of his Gospel: “These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31)

The life John was referring to is Eternal Life, a life made possible by being united with the Life Giver. Perhaps more than any of the other Gospels, John gives us a portrayal not only of a personal human Jesus but also of the Divine origins and nature of Jesus as Messiah, Immanuel – God with us. The writer to the Hebrews puts it this way: “He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Heb 1:3) Paul declares in Colossians “He is the image of the invisible God” and “In him all the fullness of the deity lives” (Col 1:15; 2:9)

John begins his description of Jesus as being eternally present with God, in fact he asserts he IS God and the creator of all things. God who then came to earth in the form of man. (John 1:1-3;14)

While some want to argue that Jesus never made any claim to actually be God, any study of John’s Gospel clearly shows otherwise. On no less than seven occasions Jesus makes the bold statement of “I AM” Every Jew who heard Jesus as he made this claim knew exactly what Jesus meant. He was declaring himself to be equal with God. “I AM” was the personal name of God in the Old Testament. A Name so sacred and holy to the Hebrews they would not pronounce it, in fact anyone who used this sacred name incorrectly would be stoned to death. For Jesus to claim divine origins by the use of this name was to the Jew, blasphemy – unless – it was true! Below are the indirect I AM inferences – and the direct I AM statements:

John 4:26 – The Messiah who had now come in the flesh
John 6:20 – The I AM who walks on water and calms every storm
John 8:24 – The I AM who forgives all sin
John 8:28 – The I AM who would be lifted up for the sins of the world
John 8:58 – The I AM who is Eternal
John 13:19 – The I AM, servant and the One who declares the future
John 18:5 – The I AM who willingly went to the Cross

I AM the Bread of Life – John 6:35 – the One who satisfies with true life
I AM the Light of the world – John 8:12; 9:5 – the Righteous One who guides
I AM the door – John 10:7; 9 – the only way to the Father and the expanse of the Kingdom
I AM the Good Shepherd – John 10:11; 14 – the One who cares and leads
I AM the Resurrection and Life – John 11:25-26 – Eternal life and Resurrection power
I AM the Way the Truth and the Life – John 14:6 – the One who sets free
I AM the True Vine – John 15:1 ; 5 – the One who sustains