If I had to summarize the 7 “I Am” statements of Jesus, I would say that they’re a synopsis of God, like His “about me” overview. They paint the portrait of our Savior, as they reveal His character and the ways He works in this world.
Lately, I’ve been joining groups on social media to connect with other like-minded bloggers, so that I can learn from them. One of the things I’ve been asked in several of those groups is to give a snippet of who I am and what my ministry is about. I don’t know if you find it difficult to narrow your identity down to a few sentences or not, but I do! It’s not something I particularly care for, but it’s necessary in order to build relationships.
In the gospel of John, Jesus did the same thing. His “about me” section included 7 “I Am” statements that help us know Him, believe Him, love Him, and follow Him.
If you read my last blog post titled Secure in the Savior, you know that I recommended both the Psalms and the book of John as reading that will help build Savior-confidence to get victory over insecurity. Here I’ve paired some of the verses from the book of Psalms with the 7 “I Am” statements that Jesus made in the gospel according to John.
What are the 7 “I Am” Statements of Jesus?
- “I Am” the bread of life – John 6:35
- “I Am” the light of the world – John 8:12, John 9:5
- “I Am” the door of the sheep – John 10:7
- “I Am” the good shepherd – John 10:11
- “I Am” the resurrection and the life – John 11:25
- “I Am” the way, the truth, and the life – John 14:6
- “I Am” the true vine – John 15:1
I Am the Bread of Life
John 6:35 KJV – And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Jesus is our sufficiency! He alone can satisfy the deep needs of our souls. Jesus feeds us and fills us, and His provision never runs out.
Psalm 73:26 KJV – My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
I Am the Light of the World
John 8:12 KJV – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus lights up the darkness in our hearts and in the world. He shows us the way to life everlasting and illuminates the path we should be walking on. If you are battling depression or are drowning in discouragement and despair, draw near to the Light and allow Him to lead you out of that pit.
Psalm 18:28 KJV – For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
I Am the Door of the Sheep
John 10:7 KJV -Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jesus is the only One who can allow us entrance into heaven and grant us eternal life. There is no other way to God than through faith in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 100:3 KJV – Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
I Am the Good Shepherd
John 10:11 KJV – I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
As opposed to the bad shepherd, Jesus never allows the sheep out of His sight. He knows each of His sheep, and they know Him. He is the good shepherd who truly loves His sheep and takes His duties seriously.
When Jesus said “I am the good shepherd”, He was inviting the people to look to Him for leadership, provision, and protection. He was/is willing to assume responsibility for every single one of us.
Psalm 23 KJV – The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:25 KJV – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
This “I Am” statement of Jesus is an exciting one, for sure! Believers in Jesus have the assurance of eternal life. The grave is merely a resting place. Resurrection is a reality for true Christ-followers.
Psalm 49:15 KJV -But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
John 14:6 KJV – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the lie: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus leads us on the right path, in truth, and allows us to enjoy an abundant life. He gives us access to the throne room of God and prepares a place in paradise for us. Because of Jesus, we are reconciled to God and enter into a personal relationship with Him.
Psalm 86:11 KJV – Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
I Am the True Vine
John 15:1 KJV – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
God is our source of all life, strength, stability, and fruitfulness. Apart from Him, we can do nothing, but through Him, we can do all things.
When Jesus said “I am the true vine“, He was deeming all other religions vain. Jesus was communicating that the law wasn’t the way, and simply being an Israelite didn’t secure God’s favor either. Our good works won’t save us or keep us connected to the Lord. It’s only through Jesus that we receive everything we need for flourishing and fruitfulness.
Psalm 121:5 KJV – The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
Praise the Lord, His identity isn't a mystery. God desires us to truly know Him, and He declares Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. Share on X
Why is it Important to Know the 7 “I Am” Statements of Jesus?
The 7 “I Am” statements of Jesus, paired with the verses from the Psalms, help to give us an idea of who God is. We don’t have to wonder about the nature of God. He reveals Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every “I Am” statement Jesus made was a declaration of the identity of God and the abilities He possesses.
So now that you know who God says He is, it is up to you to believe Him, follow Him, love Him, and allow Him to rule your life. Jesus is the source of salvation, sanctification, connection with God, and resurrection. In Him is light and life, hope and peace.
The whole bible is an “about me” section for the Lord. But it’s in the book of John that we read the 7 “I Am” statements of Jesus, and discover the true essence of the Lord. In John 14:9, Jesus tells Philip that “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father“. Therefore, if we want to know God more intimately, then we need to study the person of Christ.
The more we know Him, the more we will love Him and live for Him, and want to know Him more!
Free Devotional in my Resource Library
On my “Resources” page I added several new tools for spiritual growth, including my “7 Days to More Peace of Mind” devotional bundle! It has 7 devotions, scripture lists, quotes, and poems, all on the topic of worry. I’m selling 7 Days to More Peace of Mind as an eBook on Amazon, but I’m offering it to my email subscribers for FREE!
There is also a “How to Study the Bible” handbook in that resource library. It is a 17-page guide with step-by-step instructions, study sheets, study guidelines, and more! If you would like to dig deeper into the Bible for yourself, then this free resource is for you!
There are bible study worksheets, beautiful graphics, printables (like scriptures for a sober mind), bookmarks, and more.
To tap into all the goodies, simply enter your email address in the “subscribe” section of this page.
When you do that, you will get a confirmation email with the password to my Resource Library. Then you will also receive my blog posts in your email inbox as well.
(If you are already subscribed to Daily His Disciple, email me and I will send you the link and password!)
7 “I Am” Statements of Jesus Printable Poster
My newest addition to the resource library is this printable poster that lists the 7 “I Am” statements of Jesus. You can print it and put it somewhere you will see it daily and be reminded of the character of God and His care for you.
Pray With Confidence
Prayer helps us grow in the knowledge of Jesus. If you would like to boost your prayer life, then check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the monthly contributors. Here are a few links I think will be a blessing to you:
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
19 Bible Verses that Reveal the Will of God
Check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs as well. There are many great options for your spiritual growth!
His “about me” section, I love it… Thanks for digging deep and sharing with us.
My pleasure! 🙂
“Savior-confidence”>>>> I LOVE THIS! I’m so sick of “self-confidence” I just need Jesus Confidence! <3 I loved reading through who Jesus says He is… unfortunately it's been some time! Thank you so much for writing! It was a beautiful post!
I love this! Just the other day, a friend said she didn’t know who she was anymore. I told her if she knows who JESUS is, then she’ll learn who she is. 💙
Amen! 🙂
This is a wonderful study, of Christ’s character! As blogger sister, I will tell you, that I have enjoyed EVERY “about me” write-up about my sister bloggers. I encourage you to share about YOU in the vein of sharing and fellowship.
I love reading about other bloggers too. It’s cool seeing how God uses different women to accomplish his mission. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Well done! I loved how you found each of the great I AM’s. Keep up the good work.
I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Oh great, now you’ve got me wanting to look for more “pairs”! This could take awhile! Thanks! I love it! What a great exercise to discover more about my first love, JESUS!!!
That was a really cool study! Have fun digging deeper into the word! 🙂
I love that: “We need to take time to read His ‘About Me’ section.” Such a practical way to show how much we should truly know our God! Great message!
Praise the Lord! I love getting feedback on how the Lord’s messages impact the readers. He’s such a good Father who wants his children to know him intimately and love him intensely!