“Shadow” and “Substance”

“…the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the actual form of those realities…” Hebrews 10:1 (HCSB)

When someone asks which Gospel to read as an introduction to the life of Jesus, people often answer: “The Gospel of John.” John is a great place to begin to get a picture of who Jesus is. However, because John uses language that is easy to understand, it is also easy to miss the depth of his portrayal of Jesus’ identity and mission.

This depth can be mined by exploring the biblical contexts of the I AM statements Jesus makes in this Gospel. Through these statements, Jesus communicates two things:

1. He affirms His divinity by connecting Himself to the Holy Name of the Lord (“I AM who I AM”), used in Exodus 3:14, Deuteronomy 32:39, and Isaiah 43:13.
2. He shows Himself to be the fulfillment of a major motif (or theme) of the Hebrew Scriptures. These Old Testament motifs can then be viewed as “shadows” pointing forward, offering a rough sketch of their true “substance,” which is Christ (Hebrews 10:1.)

We believe that as you study the biblical contexts of the I AM statements, you will gain an even greater understanding of who Jesus is and why Jesus came. And, as a result, your love for Him will grow even deeper.

Reflect:

Jesus once asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” How would you answer this question?