The I AM Statements of Jesus Essays - Prophets Of Islam,

The "I AM" Statements of Jesus Lynn Hicks Liberty University The "I AM" Statements of Jesus The ?I AM? statements of Jesus are some of the best evidences of the deity of Christ. In the book of Exodus God distinguishes Himself as ?I AM?. ?And God said to Moses ?I AM WHO I AM? and then he tells him to tell the children of Israel ?I AM has sent me to you? (Exodus 3:14, NKJV). The ?I AM? title is reserved for God because He has always been in past, present, and future. Jesus uses this same title for Himself when He states to the Jews Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM? (John 8:58, NKJV). The Jews at this point knew that He was claiming to be God and in their anger tried to stone Him. The ?I AM? term was a very familiar one among the Jews and there was no question to the claim Jesus was making. He was claiming His deity as the Son of God and equal with God. Now we will look at the ?I AM? statements in the book of John. ?I am the bread of life?I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone east of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:48-51, NIV). In the 16th chapter of the book of Exodus God sustained the children of Israel with the manna from heaven. He supplied what they needed in a miraculous way. But ?the manna?could not impart eternal life nor meet their spiritual needs as could the ?bread of life? that came down from heaven in the person of Jesus the Messiah? (Macarthur 2005, 1376). Jesus came as our sustainer to offer His body for the sins of the world in a miraculous way and to sustain us in a sinful world through salvation. He gives us all we need physically and spiritually. I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life? (John 8:12, NIV). Darkness is compared with evil, men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil? (John 3:19, NIV). This is describing the natural darkness that evil men use to their advantage. ?Light is a natural figure of speech for what is good and upright? (Morris 1989, 112) and we can contrast the physical darkness to spiritual darkness which also houses the evil deeds of man. ?The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn?But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness (Proverbs 4:18-19, NIV). Jesus as the light of the world brought the truth to dispel the spiritual darkness which in turn offended and angered many people, and still does today, but eternal life and salvation awaits those who accept the truth and believe on Him. ?I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture? (John 10:9, NIV). Jesus makes it very clear in this passage that He is the Gate whereby we enter for salvation and communion with the Heavenly Father. ?Here are plain directions how to come into the fold; we must come in by Jesus Christ as the door; and by faith in him as the great Mediator between God and man? (Henry 1997, 998). There is no other way to access the Father as the Scriptures state no man cometh unto the Father, but by me? (John 14:6, NIV). After salvation we are free to come and go and we will find spiritual pasture and knowledge as we study His word. ?Only Jesus Christ is the one true source for the knowledge of God and the one basis for spiritual security? (Macarthur 2005, 1391). Jesus brings us into a spiritual relationship with the Father into a place where we could not go otherwise. ?I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep? (John 10:11, NIV). As the shepherds of Jesus? day looked out after the sheep and protected them Jesus looks out for us. The shepherds