I AM
God’s name is “I am” that God revealed to Moses when he asked for LORD’s name at Mount Sinai (Ex 3:13-14). When Jesus used “I am” for himself, the Jews attempted to stone him (Jn 8:56–59) because they understood Jesus was making himself equal to God by using God’s name for himself.
John, in his gospel, presents Jesus as the “I am” incarnate, using that name seven times clarifying who “I am” is. Jesus combines it with metaphors which express his saving relationship with humanity. All of them appear in the gospel of John:
1. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (Jn 6:35).
2. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).
3. “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture (Jn 10:9).
4. “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11).
5. “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (Jn 11:25).
6. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).
7. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).
All the above seven attributes give a glimpse of who Jesus is for us.
REFLECTION
Only God exists forever. Though we believe in an eternal life, we struggle to believe an existence without a beginning. God’s revelation of his name to Moses as “I AM,” is an affirmation of His existence without a beginning and end. Jesus revealed his identity in words and deeds. Let us believe in Jesus and follow him to gain an eternal life of joy with God in heaven.