“I am” is one of the strongest and most definitive statements anyone can make, and yet, throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven “I am” statements.

When Jesus makes these statements He is doing two specific things. First, He is declaring He is God. Secondly, He is telling the truth. 

As a follower of Jesus, the fact these seven I am statements are a declaration He is God and He is indeed telling the truth are a comfort and a strength to us all, yet are becoming things even some “believers” don’t hold as truths. The seven I am statements are: 

— I am the bread of life (John 6:35)

— I am the light of the world (John 8:12)

— I am the door to the sheep (John 10:9) 4)

— I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)

— I am the resurrection & the life (John 11:25-26)

— I am the way, truth & life (John 14:6)

— I am the true vine (John 15:5).

Jesus declares He is God by stating I am as an understood reference from a conversation between God and Moses in Exodus 3:13-14-13.

Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what should I tell them?”

“God replied to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.”

This declaration of Jesus being fully God as well as fully man is essential to the Gospel message and something that cannot be compromised or changed. 

Jesus is not one of the ways or paths, but He is the one way.  These statements each have a word that proves that: “the.” 

Even the Pharisees knew what Jesus was saying when He made the I am statement because they knew the scriptures. 

The Pharisees however wouldn’t accept Jesus was the Messiah and so they claimed Him to be a liar and a blasphemer.  Jesus was neither of these and was telling the truth. 

When we believe what Jesus said in each of these statements we not only are believing He is God in the flesh, but He is also telling the truth. 

We see this supported as we read in Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?”

In a world that is changing constantly and seems to be drifting further and further away from any absolute truth, we can find comfort, confidence and security in the fact Jesus is who He said He was, He is the only way to everlasting life and He is alive.

Always remember, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.  He wants you to be just like Jesus.”  — Max Lucado (Just Like Jesus)

Renny Ross is the founding Pastor at Oasis Foursquare Church established in May 2013.  He can be reached by e-mail at rennyross@oasis4square.com