The 7 ‘I AM’s in John’s gospel.
The gospel of John is unique in that it relates mainly to his Judean Ministry and in particular the last 21 days of his life on earth. The last 10 chapters speak only about the last week of his life. John has recorded 7 miracles or signs performed by Messiah, 7 discourses with the people and declared ‘I AM’ 7 times. As we study the 7 ‘I am’ sayings, we begin to see the true nature of our Lord.

1. I am the bread of life – John 6:35: Messiah was referring to the manna which the Israelites ate for 40 years during their journey in the wilderness. They all died but the bread which Messiah gives is life-giving bread. In Jn.6:35 Messiah said ‘he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’
Jesus told the woman at the well that if she drinks the water he gives, she would never thirst again. He
said,’ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.‘ (John 4:13-14).
On the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. (John 7:37-39).

2. I am the light of the world – John 8:12: When Yahshua was born Simeon said of him, ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel’. He is the source of all spiritual understanding. Whoever follows him will never gain walk in ignorance or sin. These words were spoken on the day after the last day of the feast, the feast of joy for the law. On that day the Jews would take all the sacred books out of the chest where they had been deposited in the synagogue and put a lighted candle in their place. Pro.6:23, ’for the commandment is a Lamp and the law is life. Psa.119:105, ‘Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.’ If this custom existed in the time of our Lord, it is probably that it is to it he refers, as it must have happened about the same time in which these words were spoken.

3. I am the door of the sheep – John.10:7:  Yahshua implies three points in this saying. He comes in through the door, i.e. he fulfills the conditions of the Builder. He is the door through which, if any man enters in, he shall be saved. He is the true shepherd, all others who came before him were false messiahs. Salvation is only through him. When we enter into the eternal kingdom through him, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Ps.23:6.

4. I am the good shepherd – John.10:11: A shepherd’s job is to look after the safety of the sheep. He will not risk his life in the process. By their neglect the flock would be harmed. A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Yahshua Messiah as the good shepherd laid down his life for our sins and opened the door so that we may have eternal life. He was prophesied of in the Old Testament as a shepherd,(Isa.40:11). He came to give life to the flock, the church in general, which looked like a valley full of dry bones. Every good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. Come to Jesus today and He will save your soul. He will place you in the flock of God. He will save you from the wrath of God. He will give you a new life and a new birth.
           
5. I am the resurrection and the life – John.11:25:  Messiah himself is able to raise dead men to life. He is the source of resurrection. Everyone who believes in Messiah, though he dies a physical or natural death, will live again with him. The redeemed soul lives after death in happiness, and after the resurrection, body and soul are safe from all evil for ever. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ will never die! According to God's word, we have passed from death unto life and we shall live forever. (John 5:24)

6. I am the way, the truth and the life – John 14:6: Messiah is the only way to eternal life. He is the way by his doctrine, his sacrifice and his example. He is the truth that teaches men the knowledge of Yahweh. All others who came before him were thieves and all who came after him were false prophets, teaching that Yahshua is ‘one of the ways’ to Yahweh. He is the giver of life, physical and spiritual. He proclaims that truth can set one free from the bondage of sin (Jn.8:32-34). He offers peace which the world cannot give (JN.14:27). Jesus provides abundant life His through gospel, by which we are born again to a new life which the Spirit makes possible.

7. I am the true vine – John 15:1:  Yahweh had planted a vine brought out of Egypt (Psa.80:8). This refers to Israel which was physical but it was not the true Vine. The true Vine was His Son, whom He brought up out of Egypt –Yahshua (Num.24:8). If they were to carry on the work of the Lord, then they needed to know how to produce that kind of fruit in their lives.  He wants them to know that the only way they can be fruitful for the glory of God is to abide in Him, the True Vine. Jesus is the True Vine.  He exists to bring glory to His Father, the Vine Dresser, by saving sinners, living through them and causing them to bear fruit. 

The seven ‘I AM’s in John reveal to us the character of Yahshua Messiah, who he is and what he has to offer us.

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