Seven Declarations

Long before Jesus walked the street of Nazareth, mankind was searching to know and connect with God. Moses was such a person. God initiated with him while he was living as a nomad shepherding sheep. Calling him up to a mountain to the site of a burning bush, God gave Moses a mission to go tell Pharaoh of Egypt to let God's people go out from their slavery.

You can imagine that Moses might be thinking of all the obstacles he would face. He was a nobody so who was going to listen to Him? He didn't even know how he would convince his own people, let alone a world leader. So he questions God.

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Exodus 3:13-14 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations."

From that day on, Israel knew God by the name He had revealed to them - "I AM." Linked forever to the personal name Yahweh, it is an exclusive name of God throughout the scriptures. It is a sacred and holy name. I AM communicates the idea of the eternally existing God who has no beginning and no end. We might think of it as God saying, "I AM now, I WILL BE forever and I HAVE BEEN forever." It is a name of divine being which no one else could possibly claim. Yet, Jesus does.

In making known what kind of Man He is (the only God-Man), Jesus makes seven I AM statements that would leave no doubt in the hearers' minds that Jesus was claiming to be the one and only I AM. Look closely at each I AM revelation that Jesus makes about Himself and the implications of the name.

1. I Am the Bread of Life: Jesus alone can satisfy the human soul. Apart from Him, we will always hunger for purpose and hope. (John 6:35)
2. I Am the Light of the World: Darkness is the default state of the world and blindness plagues every person until they look to Jesus who gives the light of life and truth. (John 8:12)
3. I Am the Gate of the Sheepfold: Jesus is the only door to life where ultimate protection and safety from evil that destroys can be found. (John 10:7)
4. I Am the Good Shepherd: Jesus describes the lengths He will go to for His sheep, "laying down my own life" to keep them safe. (John 10:11)
5. I Am the Resurrection and the Life: Jesus makes an astounding promise that "whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live." (John 11:25)
6. I Am the Way, Truth, and Life: Jesus adds, "No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is the one and only point of access to God the Father. There is no other way but Him. (John 14:6)
7. I Am the True Vine: Jesus is the source of life and fruitfulness from which those who remain attached to Him get the power to obey and follow Him. (John 15:1)

Ponder the I AM statements of Jesus and consider these questions.

• What is the undeniable claim of Jesus?
• How do His statements nullify the claim by some that Jesus is a good man but not the God-Man?
• Which I AM statement speaks to a need you feel in your own life?
• What would it mean to have that need satisfied?

Jesus did not claim to be the most preeminent teacher among the teachers. He did not claim to be a more legitimate leader than the Romans. He did not set Himself up as an example of good living.

Jesus revealed Himself to be God.

Jesus declared Himself the great I AM, come down from heaven taking on the form of man in order to become the Way for us to enter into a relationship with God.

No, we have never had a friend like Him!