JOHN 6:35 THE 7 “I AM’ S” IN JOHN’S GOSPEL
JOHN 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;--
Today I want to talk for a little while on the “7 I AM’S” that we find in the gospel of John. Let me point out first of all that the number [7] in the Bible is the number of completion and perfection, and certainly every thing about the Lord Jesus was and is complete and perfect, there is not one bit of imperfection that any one can point out when it comes to Jesus.
Pilot said in John 18:38--he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Let me remind us that before the fall of Adam & Eve there in the Garden of Eden, God came down and fellowshipped with them.
Genesis 1: 27-30 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. -- 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
So we see here that God came to the Garden and talked with Adam & Eve before they sinned.
And then after the fall of man, God came down to be with His people Israel as He would meet with the High Priest in the Holy of holies there in the Tabernacle as the Israelites moved about as God directed them to do so.
Exodus 25: 21-22 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
And then in the N.T. God came down in the Person of His Son Jesus and dwelled among men.
John 1: 14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
So God never left man, man left God. I’ve said all that to show us that God is still the same merciful God that He’s always been and He desires to have fellowship with man.
God is the Great I AM. God said to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3: 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:-
And Jesus said in John 8: 58 as He talked with the religious Jews, Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Remember we’re talking today about the 7 “I AM’S” in the gospel of John.
Ø Jesus was God in flesh:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Vs. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
John 10:30 --I and my Father are one.
John 17:16 -- that they may be one, even as we are One:
1 Timothy 3:16--God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
So if there might be any one listening that has doubts as to who Jesus is, these verses will remove all doubt if people will believe the Bible, and if people still don’t believe it, then their in the group called “unbelievers”.He is God the Son. There’s God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
1 John 5:7 For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Praise God for His undisputable Word.
Ø The “I Am’s”
In John Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ deity. They appear in Jesus’ last 12 months on earth.
The 1st one is found in JOHN 6:35 I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE--
he fed the 5000. God fed Israel in the wilderness with manna.
So our text verse tells us that God takes care of our needs and gives us strength. Even beyond physical to spiritual needs. 6:35 I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger. --
Ø And then the 2nd ‘I AM’.
John 8:12 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 has declared that He is the Bread of life, now He declares that He is the Light of life.
Listen dear heart, there have been many in the past that have said that they were the Christ, and there will no doubt be others right up until Jesus Christ returns, Lewis Farrakhan said that Obama was the Messiah. If he doesn’t come to except Jesus as to Who the Bible declares Him to be, him and all others that show such stupidity are hell bound, make no mistake.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:26-27 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The so-called Rev. Moon claims to be the Messiah; the cult leader there in Waco Texas that was burned to death as well as many of his followers claimed that he was the Messiah.
And then there’s other cults such as there was in Jones town, where Jim Jones was responsible for leading his cult to suicide. Over 900 poor lost souls died and without a doubt found them selves in hell seconds after drinking the cyanide poisoned drink.
But the precious little children that were forced to drink it I’m sure went to heaven, Gods grace took care of that matter.
No one can go to Gods heaven unless they go Gods way.
These poor souls in this country have been in a land that has more preaching of Gods Word than any other country in the world. If a person finds him or herself in hell that’s from here in the so-called Bible belt, I believe there torment will be for greater than someone who has never been exposed to the Gospel.
Luke 12: 48 -- For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:
Hebrews 10:29 +31 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,-- 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God
Ø And then the 3rd “I AM” is found in
John 10:8-10 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Lets be reminded that the way to heaven is a narrow way, we’re told here that Jesus is THE DOOR, He is not a door, He is the Door, and so, any and all other religions are a passage way to hell, people can feel comfortable in the religion and claim that theirs is the way to heaven, but that’s not what the Bible says.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Ø And then the 4th “I AM”
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine--.
Let me say also that here in John 10: we have security in the Lord Jesus.
24-30 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and my Father are one.
Dear heart do you know what eternal means? It means forever, no end.
The same Greek word used forever lasting fire, is the same Greek word used for everlasting life, why do some folks believe one and not the other?
It has to be the Denominational doctrine they’ve been taught, because the Bible makes it clear.
Jesus said in John 8:56 –58 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus is “I AM”.
Ø And the 5th “I AM”
John 11: 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
I want us to notice, Jesus ask her if she believed what He said.
That’s what its all about, believing what He said.
1st John 5:10- 13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Ø And the 6th “I AM”
John 14: 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Once again we see the infallible truth that Jesus is the only Way.
Ø And then the 7th “I Am” in the gospel of JOHN IS FOUND IN:
JOHN 15: 1-5 1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
