JESUS IS THE I AM

JESUS IS THE I AM
John 8:58

Don Fortner


John's primary object in writing his gospel narrative was to demonstrate our Savior's eternal deity as one with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the Trinity (John 1:1-3; 14:9). Therefore, it is not surprising that he constantly tells us that the Lord Jesus called himself the I AM, both directly and indirectly. He said to the Jews, "Before Abraham was I AM. He could not have been more direct in the assertion of his Godhood. Here are twelve instructive examples of the same thing in the Gospel of John.

  1. "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"(6:35, 50-58). If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever.
  2. "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" (8:12). He who follows Christ, the Light, no longer walks in the darkness of tradition, superstition, idolatry, and sin, but rather walks in the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.
  3. "I AM THE DOOR" (10:9). Christ is the only Door of entrance into the kingdom of God. He is the Door of the sheep. And all who enter in by him shall be saved.
  4. "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD" (10:11, 14-16). The good Shepherd gave his life for his sheep, knows his sheep, gathers his sheep, and keeps his sheep.
  5. "I AM THE SON OF GOD" (10:36). Thus the man Christ Jesus asserted his divinity (10:33), his eternality, the plurality of Persons in the Godhead, and the unity of the divine Persons.
  6. "I AM THE RESURRECTION" (11:25). Those who believe on him shall never die.
  7. "I AM HE" (13:19) - He of whom the prophets spoke, whose name is I AM, who came to save his people (18:49).
  8. "I AM THE WAY." Without him we cannot come to God.
  9. "I AM THE TRUTH." Without him we cannot know God.
  10. "I AM THE LIFE" (14:6). Without him we cannot live before God.
  11. "I AM THE VINE" (15:1-10). We are the branches. The branches bear fruit of the vine. But in order to bear fruit, they must be pruned and must abide in the vine.
  12. "I AM KING" (19:19-22). He is king everywhere, over all things, forever. He must reign! The Father decreed it. He deserves it. And all his saints desire it and delight in it.


Don Fortner is pastor of
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, KY