Gospel of John, an Overview

Christ: The Heart of Christianity

A . The Purpose of the Gospel of John
B. The Power of the Gospel of John
C. The Penetration of the Gospel of John
D. The Plan of the Gospel of John

Jesus' Seven 'I Am' Statements

B. The Power of the Gospel of John

John takes us with him in the Gospel of John on a rough road of believing. The road is not predictable. What we think might work often does not work. In fact, it is more often the unexpected and surprising things that bring people to a deeper awareness of Christ which in turn affects their lives.

Safe Controllable Can see Predictable Can't be bitten Controllable Can see Predictable Can't be bitten Controllable Can see Predictable Can't be bitten

(1) in a controlled and
predictable environment
such as a pool,

Is following Jesus Christ more like:

(1) Swimming in a pool (left) or

(2) Swimming in the ocean (right)?

Can be dangerous Uncontrollable Can't see Very unpredictable Might be bitten

(2) in unknown and
unpredictable ocean
waters?

Walking through the Gospel of John with Christ is more like a trip into the ocean.

Each step, each encounter, leads us to unexpected revelations of the glory of Jesus Christ. What else would one expect from knowing the only Son of God, the eternal logos? We see this same progressive revelation of Christ in His seven 'I am' statements. Each of the seven "I am" quotes in the Gospel of John reveal some significant aspect of Christ. No man would say such things, but Jesus could say them without questions from His disciples or even His enemies!

Let's look at them a bit closer below in the chart.
Explanation of Jesus' 7 'I Am' Statments
Reference Brief Quote	Title Description	The Scripture Text
John 6:48 I am the bread of life.	The Sustainer He gives us all we need.	I am the bread of life.
John 8:12 I am the light of the world.	The Illuminator He brings the energy of light into our dark world.	Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." (cf. 9:5)
John 10:9 I am the door.	The Mediator He brings us where we otherwise could not go.	I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd.	The Caretaker He cares for us just like we need it.	I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life.	The Life Giver He brought us from death into life eternal.	Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies.",
John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life.	The Leader He guides us through all of life's difficult ways.	Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
John 15:1 I am the true vine.	The Success Maker He makes us unbelievably productive.	I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

B. The Power of the Gospel of John

Revelation of Christ's true nature

Knowing Christ is a step by step set of experiences.

Regularly experience a changed life.

The more I know Christ, the more my life is affected.

B. The Power of the Gospel of John, Study Questions

• How has your knowledge of the glory of Christ increased over the years?

• Pray that you may grow in the wisdom and knowledge of Christ (cf. Eph 1:17).

Understanding the Old Testament 'I Am' Statement

C. The Penetration of the Gospel of John

The phrase 'I am' refers back to the time that God revealed His Name to Moses in Exodus 3. From the significant ways that Jesus used the 'I am' phrase, we understand that He is saying that He is the full revelation of God. This is why the scriptures say that if a person rejects Christ, he rejects God.

A Quiz

And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’" (Exodus 3:14, NASB).

DETECTIVE WORK:

Circle the Hebrew word on the left from Exodus 3:14 that occurs three times. Remember that Hebrew reads from right to left!

	The Gospel of John has many significant 'I am' verses that go beyond the mere statements mentioned above. Through these verses it is clear that John uses the phrase 'I Am' not only for emphasis, such as in the words, 'I myself am,' but in a deeper theological way.
'I am' is used to describe Christ's preexistent life back before Abraham’s time.	Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:58, NASB).
The significant phrase 'I am? is used. The 'He' of 'I am He' is italicized because it is not really there at all. Only the 'I am' phrase is there in Greek (ego eimi.)	I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins. (John 8:24, NASB).
We have no other way to understand this phrase 'I am' than to see it as Christ's glorious Name. We are led to believe that some power was behind this Name. Again, the added 'He' is not there. All Christ said was, 'I am.'	When therefore He said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back, and fell to the ground. (John 18:6, NASB).

C. The Penetration of the Gospel of John

Revelation of Christ's true nature

Christ is the full revelation of God to man.

Regularly experience a changed life.

When I know Christ, I will eagerly worship Him.

C. The Penetration of the Gospel of John, Study Questions

• Scan the OT and read aloud 10 places Yahweh (same as Jehovah) is used. (Most English versions use 'LORD' to refer to Yahweh.)

• Then find 10 places in the NT which uses ‘Lord’ in the title the ‘Lord Jesus Christ.’ (The Greek word for Lord is used to translate Yahweh in the OT).

• Look up Jehovah or Yahweh in a Bible dictionary. (One might need to check under God's Names). See how that discussion relates to the 'I am' phrase above.

Check out the BFF Biblical Training CD has an incredible amount of training materials in pdf and powerpoint format ready to print out and share. We even have some mp3! We allow you to copy. modify and distribute material for teaching or personal edification. You don't need to ask!

Gospel of John, an Overview

Christ: The Heart of Christianity

Jesus' Seven 'I Am' Statements

B. The Power of the Gospel of John

John takes us with him in the Gospel of John on a rough road of believing. The road is not predictable. What we think might work often does not work. In fact, it is more often the unexpected and surprising things that bring people to a deeper awareness of Christ which in turn affects their lives.

(1) in a controlled and predictable environment such as a pool,

Is following Jesus Christ more like:

(1) Swimming in a pool (left) or

(2) Swimming in the ocean (right)?

(2) in unknown and unpredictable ocean waters?

Walking through the Gospel of John with Christ is more like a trip into the ocean.

Explanation of Jesus' 7 'I Am' Statments

Reference

Brief Quote

Title

Description

The Scripture Text

The Sustainer

The Illuminator

The Mediator

The Caretaker

The Life Giver

The Leader

The Success Maker

B. The Power of the Gospel of John

Revelation of Christ's true nature

Knowing Christ is a step by step set of experiences.

Regularly experience a changed life.

The more I know Christ, the more my life is affected.

Understanding the Old Testament 'I Am' Statement

C. The Penetration of the Gospel of John

A Quiz

And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’" (Exodus 3:14, NASB).

DETECTIVE WORK:

C. The Penetration of the Gospel of John

Revelation of Christ's true nature

Christ is the full revelation of God to man.

Regularly experience a changed life.

When I know Christ, I will eagerly worship Him.

Check out the BFF Biblical Training CD has an incredible amount of training materials in pdf and powerpoint format ready to print out and share. We even have some mp3! We allow you to copy. modify and distribute material for teaching or personal edification. You don't need to ask!

Or see BFF's Resource Center for purchasing this low cost CD along with BFF's quality training material.

Other Gospel of John articles:

(1) in a controlled and
predictable environment
such as a pool,

(2) in unknown and
unpredictable ocean
waters?