In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven profound **"I AM *(ἐγώ εἰµι)*"**; statements, each with a predicate that reveals nature. While these declarations may not directly invoke God's name from the Old Testament revealed to Moses in [Exodus 3:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.14) or used throughout the book of Isaiah, their significance lies in the attributes and authority Jesus claims. In these **"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"** sayings, a metaphorical image completes the thought. For example by saying **"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"** and attaching characteristics such as "the bread of life," "the light of the world," or "the resurrection and the life," Jesus is taking on roles that belong exclusively to God. These claims serve a greater purpose: to demonstrate that Jesus possesses the power, presence, and authority of God Himself. > [!question] What is a predicate? > | Definition | Example | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | <font color="#0070c0">Predicate</font>: The part of a sentence or clause that expresses what is said about the subject (usually contains the verb and additional information). [Predicate Definition](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/predicate) | [John 6:41](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.6.41) – "The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, 'I am the bread which came down from heaven.'" (Predicate: "came down from heaven") | When taken in context, there are 7 sayings with a predicate in John, these seven claims are also tied indirectly to the 7 signs that Jesus preforms in the Gospel. Jesus uses these "Signs" or "Miracles" to prove his claims and authority: # 1. Bread of Life / Bread from Heaven - John 6:35, 41, 48. 51 In [John 6:35-51](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.6.35-51), Jesus proclaims Himself as the source of eternal life, following the miracle of feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish ([John 6:1-15](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.6.1-15)). After witnessing this miracle, the crowd seeks Jesus in Capernaum, desiring more physical bread ([John 6:25-30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.6.25-30)), but He redirects their focus to spiritual nourishment, emphasizing belief in Him as the path to eternal life. > [!bible]+ [John 6:35-51 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/6/) > 35. Jesus said to them, “I am (**"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"**) the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” 41. So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am (**"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"**) the bread that came down from heaven.” 42. They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43. Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me — 46. not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48. I am (**"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"**) the bread of life. 49. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51. I am (**"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"**) the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” In this passage, Jesus makes several significant "**"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"**" statements, each revealing His divine role in providing eternal life. In John 6:35, He declares, "**"I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"** the bread of life," emphasizing that He is essential for spiritual sustenance, just as physical bread is necessary for survival. When the Jews grumbled about his saying in verse 41 and questioned who he really is, He repeats that he is the bread of life (48) and that all must come to him for eternal life. Stating once again at John 6:51 - "**I AM** the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." ## The Bread of Life in the Context of Scripture Jesus’ declaration follows the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, a sign that parallels God’s provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness ( [Exodus 16](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.16); [Numbers 11:6-9](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NUM.11.6-9)). Manna, a miraculous bread from heaven, sustained the Israelites, but it only met their physical needs temporarily. In contrast, Jesus presents Himself as the true bread from heaven that brings eternal life, fulfilling and surpassing the Old Testament symbolism of God’s provision. The Old Testament frequently depicts God as the provider of sustenance. [Psalm 78:24](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.78.24) and [Nehemiah 9:15](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NEH.9.15) recount how God fed His people in the wilderness, foreshadowing the greater provision of Christ. Isaiah also prophesies a time when God's people will no longer hunger or thirst ([Isaiah 49:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.49.10)) and calls all to come and be spiritually nourished ([Isaiah 55:1-3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.55.1-3)). These themes continue into Revelations ([Revelation 7:16](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.7.16); [Revelation 22:17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.22.17)7), where eternal life and satisfaction are promised to those who come to Christ. ### Comparison with Living Water This dialogue also mirrors Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in [John 4:7-26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.4.7-26). Just as He offered her “living water” that would forever quench her thirst ([John 4:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.4.14)), He now offers “living bread” that ensures eternal life ([John 6:51](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.6.51)). Both bread and water are used by Jesus to point beyond physical needs to the spiritual sustenance found in Him. In both cases, Jesus concludes by revealing His divine identity through the **I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)"** declaration. ### Sign 1 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - Jesus Feeds five thousand]] # 2. Light of the World - John 8:12 Here, Jesus is likened to a light that brightens our path,guiding humanity out of darkness and into salvation. The idea of light symbolizing God's presence is deeply rooted in Old Testament theology. > [!bible]+ [John 8:12 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/8/) > 12. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “**I am** the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” By saying, “**I AM (ἐγώ εἰµι)** the light of the world,” Jesus is asserting that He, as the Word, is the ultimate revelation of God, guiding people out of spiritual darkness. In [Exodus 13:21-22](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.13.21-22), God guided the Israelites through the wilderness with a pillar of fire, symbolizing His presence as light. [Isaiah 42:6-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.42.6-7) speaks of a servant who will be a "light to the nations," opening the eyes of the blind to bring them out of darkness. [Psalm 119:105](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.119.105) refers to God's Word as a "lamp unto our feet,". In [John 1:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.1.1), Jesus is described as the Word (Logos), and this idea is reinforced in [Mark 2:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.2.2) (See [[Jesus Is The Word Of God]]). The "**I AM"** statement echo's God's self-revelation to Moses in [Exodus 3:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.14). By declaring Himself the "light of the world," Jesus is positioning Himself as the fulfillment of these Old Testament promises and now brings spiritual illumination to all who follow Him, showing the way to eternal life. ## Sign 2 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - Healing The Man Born Blind]] # 3. The Gate For The Sheep - John 10:7 In this statement, Jesus says He is the door through which His followers can enter into safety and rest, like sheep entering a secure pen. Jesus is the only way to salvation and a relationship with God, connecting this claim with His later statement in [John 14:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.14.6), "**I am** the way, the truth, and the life." This also links to the next **"I AM"** statement where He describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. > [!bible]+ [John 10:7-9 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/10/) > 7. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. This connects to Old Testament imagery, where the temple curtain (veil) separated people from God's presence in the Holy of Holies ([Exodus 26:33](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.26.33)). Only the high priest could pass through that curtain once a year ([Leviticus 16:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LEV.16.2)). When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain was torn in two ([Matthew 27:50-51](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.27.50-51)), symbolizing that He is now the "door" or way into God's presence. Just as the curtain once blocked the way, now through Jesus, everyone can come to God directly for salvation and spiritual safety ([Hebrews 9:3-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.9.3-7)). T[John 14:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.14.6)connects to His later statement in John 14:6, where He declares that He is the only way to the Father. ## Sign 3 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - The Healing Of A Paralyzed Man At The Sheep Gate]] # 4. Good Shepherd - John 10:11-14 In [John 10:11-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.10.11-14), Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” This statement is profound, as it not only illustrates His commitment to His followers but also aligns with the divine role of God as depicted in the Old Testament. > [!bible]+ [John 10:11-14 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/10/) > 11. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, In the Old Testament, God is profoundly depicted as the shepherd of His people, a theme that deeply influences Jesus' claim to be the "good shepherd." In [Ezekiel 34:1-16](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EZK.34.1-16), God contrasts the failure of Israel's leaders with His own perfect care, promising to personally tend to His flock by seeking out the lost, healing the injured, and guiding them to good pastures. [Genesis 48:15](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.48.15) and [49:24](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.49.24) reference God as the shepherd who has guided Jacob from his youth. [Psalm 23:1-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.23.1-4) further elaborates on this image, portraying God as a shepherd who provides, leads, and protects, guiding His people through life's trials and restoring their souls. [Psalm 80:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.80.1) and [Psalm 100:3-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.100.3-4) call upon God as the "Shepherd of Israel," highlighting His role in leading and caring for His people, while [Micah 7:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MIC.7.14) envisions God guiding His people with a staff. These passages collectively depict God as the good shepherd who is intimately involved in the lives of His people, ensuring their safety and well-being. Jesus is claiming to take on this role of a shepherd, even saying that all the sheep of Israel and Gods people are His and obey Him. > [!bible]+ [John 10:27 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/10/) > 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. In biblical context, "good" is a descriptor that carries moral weight and perfection, often associated with God. The connection between "good" and divine nature is emphasized in the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler ([Mark 10:18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.10.18), [Luke 18:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.18.19)), where Jesus asks; > [!bible]+ [Mark 10:18 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/41/10/) > 18. And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. By this, Jesus is not denying His own goodness; rather, He is leading the young man (and the readers) to understand that if He is indeed "good," it must be recognized that He is one with God ([John 10:30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.10.30);) as only God embodies the ultimate standard of goodness. Moreover, the good shepherd's willingness to lay down his life for the sheep contrasts sharply with the hired hand who abandons the sheep in times of danger ([John 10:12-13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.10.12-13)). Therefore, when Jesus proclaims Himself as the "good shepherd," He is doing more than making an analogy to His care and guidance. He is claim the role and titles of God. ## Sign 4 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - Entering Room When Door Shut]] # 5. Resurrection - John 11:25 In [John 11:25](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.11.25), Jesus declares, “**I am** the resurrection and the life,” asserting His divine authority over both life and death. By making this statement, Jesus takes on a role that, in the Old Testament, is exclusively reserved for God. His claim to be the source of resurrection and life is a profound assertion of His divine power and identity. > [!bible]+ [John 11:25 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/11/) > 25. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, The Old Testament clearly attributes control over life and death to God alone. [Deuteronomy 32:39](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/DEU.32.39) asserts that God alone has the power to give life and bring death. Similarly, [1 Samuel 2:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1SA.2.6) and[Job 1:21](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JOB.1.21) emphasize that only God has the authority to determine life and death. [Psalm 56:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.56.13) and [Psalm 104:29-30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.104.29-30) acknowledges God's role in sustaining and giving life, while [2 Kings 5:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2KI.5.7) shows God's authority over healing and restoration. Even extra biblical sources like 2 Maccabees 7:1-38 those who have hope in resurrection and life through God's power. Finally, [Daniel 12:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/DAN.12.2) speaks of a future resurrection where God will raise the dead to everlasting life or shame. This prophecy highlights the expectation of God's intervention in resurrection, a role Jesus claims for Himself by saying . By declaring Himself as the resurrection and the life, Jesus is not only affirming His ability to bring physical resurrection but also claiming to be the source of eternal life. This statement signifies that He is appropriating the divine power of God, aligning His identity with the God of the Old Testament who alone has dominion over life and death. In doing so, Jesus is making a bold declaration of His divine nature and His role in fulfilling the promises of God, offering both resurrection and eternal life to those who believe in Him. ## Sign 5 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead]] # 6. The Way and The Truth And Life - John 14:6 In this statement, Jesus says that He is the exclusive path to God, the ultimate embodiment of truth, and the source of everlasting life. His declaration is a bold claim that echoes many Old Testament teachings about God's guidance, truth, and life-giving power. > [!bible]+ [John 14:6 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/14/) > 6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ## Way Throughout Scripture, the “way” often symbolizes God's path of guidance for His people. In [Exodus 33:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.33.13), Moses asks God, "Show me now your ways, that I may know you." Similarly, [Psalm 25:4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.25.4), [27:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.27.11), [86:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.86.11) pleads for God to make known his "way" and provide a path and in [Psalm 119:59](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.119.59), the author reflects, "When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies,". [Isaiah 40:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.40.3) speaks of "A voice crying: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God,'" foretelling the coming of the Messiah. [Isaiah 62:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.62.10) also urges, "Go through, go through the gates; prepare the way for the people." Jesus fulfills this role by declaring Himself the "Way," guiding believers directly to the Father as the ultimate path of salvation, just as God guided His people in the Old Testament. ## Truth In the Old Testament, truth is synonymous with God's faithfulness and trustworthiness. [Psalm 25:5](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.25.5) declares, "Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation." Similarly, [Psalm 43:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.43.3) asks, "Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me." Both verses express the desire to be led by God's truth as the foundation of life. [Psalm 86:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.86.11) links truth with knowing God, saying, "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." This truth is not just intellectual but also experiential, requiring trust in God’s faithfulness. [Psalm 119:160](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.119.160) proclaims, "The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever," showing that God's Word itself is the embodiment of truth. [1 Kings 17:24](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1KI.17.24) demonstrates the recognition of God’s truth through His prophets when the widow says to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." This highlights that God's messengers speak truth by His authority. [Isaiah 45:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.45.19) reassures, "I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right." God’s words are always aligned with what is righteous and trustworthy. By claiming to be "the truth," Jesus is asserting that He embodies the very truth of God, fulfilling these Old Testament promises of God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness. ## Life Jesus, as the "Life," reflects God's role as the life-giver in passages like Psalm 36:9 and Psalm 68:20, where life is depicted as flowing from God. He claims that eternal life is only found in Him, the source of all spiritual and eternal vitality. Just as God in the Old Testament was the source of life, truth, and guidance for His people, Jesus now reveals Himself as the only way to access the Father. His statement in John 14:6 encapsulates the core of Christian belief that no one can come to God except through Jesus, who provides the path, the knowledge, and the life needed to reach eternal salvation. Here, Jesus affirms that He is the exclusive path to God, the embodiment of truth, and the source of everlasting life just as God himself is theses things ([Psalm 36:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.36.9), [Psalm 68:20](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.68.20)). There is no other way to God, but though him. ## Sign 6 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - Healing Of The Royal Officials Son]] # 7. Vine / Vineyard - John 15:1-5 In [John 15:1-5](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.15.1-5), Jesus declares, "I am the true vine," and that those who believe in him are the branches that offshoot from him. The idea is that if you cut yourself off from him, you will die in the same way a branch does. Moreover just as branches need to be connected to the vine to bear fruit, so too do believers need to remain united with Him to live a fruitful Christian life. > [!bible]+ [John 15:1-5 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/15/) > 1. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. The imagery of the vine and vineyard is deeply rooted in Old Testament symbolism. In [Isaiah 5:1-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.5.1-7), Israel is depicted as a vineyard that failed to produce good fruit despite the diligent care of its owner, symbolizing the nation’s failure to live righteously. Jesus’ claim to be the “true vine” contrasts with this failure, suggesting that He embodies what Israel was meant to be—a true source of spiritual fruitfulness. Similarly, [Psalm 80:9-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.80.9-17) compares Israel to a vine brought out of Egypt and planted in fertile land, yet struggling due to divine displeasure. Jesus, as the true vine, offers a renewed hope for spiritual thriving. In [Jeremiah 2:21](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JER.2.21), Israel is described as a choice vine that has become wild and unfruitful, highlighting the contrast with Jesus, who provides the true means to bear the fruit of righteousness. [Ezekiel 17:5-10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EZK.17.5-10) uses the vine to symbolize the kings of Israel and their unfaithfulness, but Jesus’ assertion as the true vine indicates that He is the genuine source of life and fruitfulness, surpassing the failed leadership of the past. God is often shown to be the source and active sustainer of physical and spiritual life ([Genesis 2:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.2.7); [Job 33:4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JOB.33.4); [Colossians 1:16-17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/COL.1.16-17); [Psalm 75:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.75.3)). But Jesus uses this **I AM** claim to make himself the source of life. ## Sign 7 ![[The 7 Signs Of Jesus In John#The Sign - Turning Water To Wine At Cana]] In this metaphor, Jesus likens himself to a vine, with his followers as the branches. He is the source that nourishes and sustains the spiritual life of his followers. This idea is echoed in[Isaiah 5:1-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.5.1-7),