A multimedia devotional series on the i am statements of jesus in the gospel of john curated by esteban shedd in partnership with streetlights bible. Study 41 terms module 7 bible questions flashcards quizlet. They thereby complement john s clearlystated purpose in writing his book. Nancy guthrie interviews andrew sach on how to teach jesuss i am statements and how knowing the old testament is essential to. John is the only gospel that uses the i am statements of jesus as a framework for presenting his gospel. In this chapter, jesus establishes a pattern that continues through john s gospeljesus makes a statement about who he is, and he backs it up with something he does. In the gospel of john, jesus makes seven statements beginning with the words i am. So that means that john has given to the world descriptions of jesus that are not available from any of the other gospel writers. The eighth i am statement in johns gospel david bahn.
How to teach the i am statements in john the gospel coalition. Throughout the gospel, jesus makes various claims his divinity by using the phrase i am seven times. However, as we have seen in this final i am statement, jesus is much more. Jesus said, i am the way, the truth, the life john 14. In seven of these passages, john joins this phrase to tremendous metaphors which are expressive of jesus saving relationship toward the world. In the gospel of john are the seven great i am statements spoken by jesus. Each time jesus says i am, he is saying that he is god. The seven i am statements of jesus in john s gospel find this and more great catholic infographics and quotes. John uses the same phrase 23 times in his gospel and makes it clear each time that jesus is claiming divinity. New testament scholars would here discuss whether these are the exact words of jesus or johns style of structuring the teaching of jesus.
These are exactly the tools sach brought to the i am statements in john in our discussion, helping us as teachers to go deeper into what jesus was communicating about himself through vivid images such as bread, light, shepherd, door, and vine. To interpret john rightly, we need to observe that jesus ministry is anchored in the old testament, and that every character of the old testament points to the work that jesus came to accomplish. The i am statements by jesus in john s gospel have resonant echoes of the great i am statements by god in the old testament. Unique to the gospel of john are seven statements jesus begins by saying i am. Original greek text i am the bread of life learn more about the bread of life. The 7 i am statements of jesus explained faith island. They demonstrate both the eternal and the personal nature of god, all the while inviting us into relationship with him. Jesus, i am, statements are not intended to be received as mere intellectual knowledge. In the gospel of john, an allimportant phrase, spoken by jesus, is repeated seven times. Aug 12, 2017 many are familiar with the famous i am statements of jesus recorded in john s gospel.
He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst john 6. Instead of giving a synoptic view of jesus, john wrote about the person of jesus. Out of the four gospel, three of them are synoptic gospels. Since the day i became a christian, the perplexing i am statements of jesus in john s gospel have always interested me. This statement became a way to connect with god personally and was used throughout israels. This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series summarizing johns gospel. Oct 27, 2018 jesus presents himself as god incarnate throughout the gospel of john, often using the phrase i am the memorial name of god revealed in exodus. Jesus completed the statement that was given to moses. Muslims, jehovahs witnesses, liberals, agnostics, secular historians and many others are perfectly happy to have a jesus who is merely a wise teacher. Jesus, in response to the pharisees question who do you think you are. What are the seven i am statements of jesus in the gospel of. The seven i am statements one of the distinctive elements of the teaching of jesus is the way he expresses important truths in terms of his own personal character and mission. Here jesus makes two improbable claims that rocked the world of the jews to whom he was speaking, and should give us pause. Thefive message in a series on the i am statements of jesus from the book of john.
But he laid his right hand on me, saying, fear not, i am the first and the last, and the living one. Jesus is comfort and certainty in an uncertain world. The statements are clear, poetic, and give kids insight into who jesus was and why it is of the utmost importance that they believe in him. Statement 3 explains that he has given us free and unlimited access to his kingdom. The i am statements of jesus drive thru history adventures. In his gospel, the apostle john had recorded eight occasions when jesus had made metaphorical statements about himself. I always had a hard time trying to understand what jesus meant by his unique references, but i knew without a shadow of a doubt he was referencing he was in some way he was god in the flesh cf. There are nine to chose from, and you can take them at whatever pace suits your group. He said that he existed before abraham who had died perhaps 2000 years prior to jesus of nazareth. Jesus i am statements are not intended to be received as mere intellectual knowledge. In this seven day study we will study the 7 signs of jesus, and the 7 i am statements of jesus, to demonstrate that john structured his book in a way that helps the reader see that jesus fulfills the ministry of elisha.
It is obvious from the opening verses of the gospel of john that the apostle wants us to understand that jesus is god. What are the seven signs and seven i am statements in the gospel of john. The book of john contains seven significant moments where jesus reveals a part of his character using the phrase i am. Jan 02, 2020 here are the seven metaphorical i am statements found in johns gospel. The seven i am statements of jesus in the book of john. Thus, in judaism, i am is unquestionably understood as a name for god. What are the seven i am statements in johns gospel made. That means they have a common view when it comes to their books and. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Emphatic i am statements of jesus in the gospel of john. Each i am statement also reveals to us a new part of jesus character. The 7 i am statements of jesus courageous christian father. Spend some time today worshiping jesus christ who is the great i am. Jesus when he walked on this earth was the godman john 1.
Sep 28, 2016 there are seven or eight i am statements in johns gospel depending on how you count them. Then jesus spoke to them again, saying, i am the light of the world. In the left column, write i am, and in the right column, write god. Last week we saw in this chapter that the pharisees accused jesus of being a liar because he was the only witness concerning himself 8. Jesus said to them, most assuredly, i say to you, before abraham was, i am. The seven i ams of jesus what christians want to know. Jesus i am statements in the gospel of john, jesus offers eight word pictures to help understand his identity. Here are the seven metaphorical i am statements found in john s gospel.
Bible study introduction to i ams in john jesus plus nothing. I love jesus, i am, statements in the book of john. From the opening verses he declares that jesus is god, stressing his. What are the seven i am statements in johns gospel made by. The seven i am statements in john might best be understood as falling under and echoing this initial, ultimate claim of jesus.
I am statements read jesus i am statements in the book of john to help students make a list of positive i am statements about themselves. In certain instances, after jesus makes these i am statements, the drastic reaction of the listeners confirms that he is equating himself with god and claiming to be yahweh matthew 22. Identify five of jesus i am statements from john below. Be prayerful, dont rush it, take time to think and reflect. They also link jesus to the old testament revelation of god. The word gospel means good news so the book of john contains the good news about jesuswho he is, why he. The bread of life and jesus said to them, i am the bread of life. Statement 1 tells us that jesus is the one who spiritually sustains us. Many other translations including the asv have rendered john 8. This would have be absolutely clear to his jewish listeners because, i am, was the personal name god used in his encounter with moses in the burning bush. Apr, 2012 in this groundwork series we study jesus eight i am statements in the biblical book of john to discover the facets of god jesus shares with us, understand the parallels these statements have in the old testament, and discuss what these identity statements continue to mean for us and our relationship with god today. Bible study commentary on jesus the great i am an introduction to the i ams in johns gospel. In statement 2 we learn that through him we gain spiritual understanding and wisdom for living.
There are some questions included, but they are by no means exhaustive. I am statements of christ lesson pack teach sunday school. Help children remember jesus healings by drawing pictures. Since the statement is not before abraham was i was, it is easy for some moderns reading through certain metaphysical assumptions to conclude that this is a statement of the atemporality of god, or about the nature of time in general. In this chapter, jesus establishes a pattern that continues through johns gospeljesus makes a statement about who he is, and he backs it up with something he does.
Weve been studying the self descriptive statements of jesus from john known as the i am discourses. Each statement gives us a glimpse into gods character and what. The seven i am statements of christ from the book of john are our best teaching tool. Rather, they should motivate us to worship jesus for who he is.
Seven i am statements of jesus in the book of john and the. In this seven day study we will study the 7 signs of jesus, and the 7 i am statements of jesus, to demonstrate that john structured his book in a way that helps the reader see that jesus fulfills the ministry of. Open in prayer, then say, for the past several weeks, we have been learning about the seven i am statements jesus made, which are recorded in the book of john. In the gospel of john i am is used by jesus in three different ways. The eight i am statements in the gospel of john mr james thomas lee jr on.
Since in english it is awkward to say, i am with you so long, and you still dont know me. The seven i am statements in john grace thru faith. Today we will look at the final and most dramatic i am statement in the gospel of john. Therefore the jews were grumbling about him, because he said, i am the bread that came down out of heaven.
Jesus seven i am statements in john 4 ernies musings. You are not yet fifty years old, the jews said to him, and you have seen abraham. We find the i am statements in the book of john, written by one of jesus disciples named john. Each of these i am proclamations furthers our understanding of jesus ministry in the world. This study is part of a 8 part series on the i am statements of jesus. We have spent the past 5 weeks discussing these passages. All necessary components for organizing and leading this study are included. The significance of the i am statements in the bible. John adds yet one more i am, of a sort, in the book of revelation, where he wrote about seeing jesus.
John wrote his gospel to persuade people to believe in jesus 20. In the book of john the 7 i ams as well as the book of revelation, jesus describes himself with the words starting with i am. The book of john the 7 signs and the 7 i ams of jesus. An emphatic i am statement is one in which the subject i is strongly emphasized in the greek text by stating it explicitly using in addition to.
When someone says, i am, it reveals something about their identity. Jesus presents himself as god incarnate throughout the gospel of john, often using the phrase i am the memorial name of god revealed in exodus. They actually prove that jesus is god and was the god of the old testament. In the book of john we find jesus demanding that we believe he is the. What are the seven i am statements in the gospel of john. Jesus i am statements in john crossway church battle.
This study examines the gospel of john and the numerous i am statements used by jesus to describe himself and to illustrate the promises that are ours through him. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. Below is a list of jesus seven i am statements in the book of john. To a world lost in darkness, christ offers himself as a guide. In the last message i gave an introduction to the i am series and we looked at moses encounter with the great i am in the burning bush exodus 3. Jesus is the true vine, and when we abide in him, we bear much fruit. In this repetition we see the fullness of his character. Open in prayer, then say, today we finish our study on the seven i am statements jesus made, which are recorded in the book of john. What are the seven i am statements of jesus in the gospel of john. These names jesus chose for himself throughout his ministry matter because they connect him to god. In this verse, have i been is originally the greek present tense ego eimi.
The book of john is also called the gospel of john. John records several i am statements from jesus throughout this book. In summary, lets put each of these seven i am statements in capsule form. Nov 09, 2018 below is a list of jesus seven i am statements in the book of john. In john s gospel, jesus makes seven i am statements, but he adds to what god said about himself to moses jesus is claiming to be a more clear revelation of god by doing this.
In johns book, are paired together 7 signs from jesus, and also 7 i am sayings that john links together. Jesus answered, i am the way and the truth and the life. All the ot and gods redemptive acts were pointing to the coming of jesus as the godinflesh, the true and better israel, and the fulfillment of all the ot types and shadows. While these seven i am statements do not constitute miraculous signs, they complement the miracles of jesus, which john records. John was also the writer of the book of revelation where there are some more i am statements of jesus that are less well known. Seven i am statements of jesus in the book of john and. Jesus was equating himself with the i am title god gave himself in exodus 3. The 7 i am statements of jesus bible, jesus christ by steve patterson august 26, 2017 november 18, 2019 there are seven statements where jesus said what he is in the book of john.
We will return to the eighth chapter of the gospel of john in order to do this. There is another i am statement in the book of revelation, but these i am statements in the gospel of john point back to the old testament and also into the kingdom. Those eight i am statements only appear in the gospel of john. Many other signs therefore did jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. The seven i am statements in john engraved in gold on. They follow signs and miracles and have major significance on his identity, deity and his death and resurrection. The violent response of the jews to jesus i am statement indicates they clearly understood what he was declaringthat he was the eternal god incarnate. The word gospel means good news so the book of john contains the good news about jesuswho he is, why he came, and what he offers to those who trust in him. Thats what the apostle paul seemed to understand as well. If we neglect to abide in him, well shrivel up spiritually.
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