Tag: #IAMstatementsofJesus

John chapters fifteen and sixteen record the last in-depth conversation that Jesus had with His disciples. It was time to leave the upper room, where they had shared the last supper together. Maybe they were gathering themselves together to leave, or they were already out on the road walking to Gethsemane. Jesus knew that His time had come to fulfil His purpose and He was trying to prepare His disciples for what lay ahead. In these last hours, Jesus said; “I am the true vine.”

In John’s Gospel there are seven statements that Jesus made declaring His ministry and purpose. They reveal not what other people said, or say about Jesus, but what He said about Himself. The ‘I AM’ statements all reveal an aspect of Jesus’ servant heart. But when Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ He was introducing to his disciples a radical new concept that He was the way to God.

Jesus declared, ‘I AM the resurrection and the life’ at a moment of darkness, of heavy grief, and loss. These were words of comfort, spoken to His close personal friends Martha and Mary. They would not understand the full implication of this remarkable statement until much later. Martha and Mary had sent word to Jesus that, their brother, Lazarus was sick. Jesus delayed, instead of rushing to help, He stayed where He was for a further two days.

In John’s gospel Jesus made a startling statement to His listeners when he said, ‘I am the good shepherd’. He was aware that they would understand the full meaning of what He was saying – He was revealing to them His identity as the Son of God, and His true purpose. Jesus went on to clarify that the Good Shepherd is the one who brings life in all its fullness, and who would be willing to give His life for His sheep.

This identity statement of Jesus was part of a discourse that He was having with the Pharisees, the religious leaders, and teachers of His day. Jesus was making a particular point, which they did not grasp or understand. And so Jesus tries again, this time speaking more plainly:

The background to Jesus declaring “I am the light of the world” was the increasing opposition to His ministry. This meant that, initially, He went up to the Festival of Tabernacles in Jerusalem in secret (John 7). Then about halfway through the festival Jesus began teaching in the Temple courts. The people were speculating about who He was and the dispute and division among them was growing.