I am the child of Eugene and Marjorie Cooke, born into
this world on a specific date, at a certain time. And, at an appointed
time the Lord will take me to be with Him! (Hebrews 9:27) When God,
however, tells Moses in Exodus 3:14 that “I AM THAT I AM”, God is
identifying Himself as the one who is eternally self-existent, having no
beginning or ending! God is timeless, everlasting, forever! His “I AM THAT
I AM” statement, emphasizes His deity, His eternality! (Psalm
90:2/Revelation 22:13)
“I AM” is an identifying name of God, the Creator of all!
Many times throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the Lord uses “I AMs” to
explain exactly who He is. The Book of Isaiah, 60:16b, states “I the Lord AM thy
Savior and thy Redeemer.” The Book of Malachi, 3:6a, explains “For I am the
Lord, I change not.” We find “I AMs” in the Books of Genesis, Psalm, Ezekiel and
other books of the Bible, including these words found in Revelation 1:17-18.
“…Fear not; I AM the first and the last. I AM he that liveth, and was dead; and
behold, I AM alive for evermore……”
In the Gospel of John, there are seven wonderful “I AMs” in
which Jesus provides clarity through images as to the ONLY way by which eternal
salvation may be obtained! Let’s look at what Jesus said.
BREAD: “I AM the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) Jesus
stated that those who believe in Him shall receive everlasting salvation. Simply
put, Jesus explains that whosoever believes on Him shall never have spiritual
hunger or thirst! Jesus was speaking metaphorically! Unlike the physical manna
given Moses, this bread is symbolic of Jesus Christ’s broken body, and the life
spoken of in this verse is spiritual not physical. (Note: The Communion elements
are also symbolic in nature.)
LIGHT: “I AM the light of the world; he that followeth me
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Without sunlight, our world and its people, woulddie. Without the Son of God, we
are already dead (spiritually), walking in spiritual darkness, fumbling along in
the footsteps of the world (Ephesians 2:2; 4:17-19). We would walk without
spiritual wisdom (Colossians 4:5), without “newness” of life (Romans 6:4b), and
without truth (III John 4). But if we walk in the “light of Jesus” we will
attempt to be obedient to the Lord, and be secure in eternal salvation! Without
that light we will flounder in today’s dark, rancid world, stumbling down dark
paths of unbelief.
DOOR: “I AM the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10: 9). We can try many
religions and enter many church doors in search of friendly congregations,
feel-good and politically correct teachings, and religious traditions but there
is but ONE way to eternal salvation, and it is not by walking into a brick and
mortar building, or accepting ungodly philosophies! Genuine, authentic
Christianity is the person of Jesus Christ, thus, there is NO other way to
receive salvation other than “going through” Him!
THE GOOD SHEPHERD: “I AM the good shepherd; the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) Once we have joined His flock
(born-again believers), and have walked into His sheepfold, we know His voice,
and He knows ours, and nothing will steal us from Him! (John 10:27-30) He is our
good shepherd who willingly died for us, and “no man is able to pluck them (true
believers) out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29b)
THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE: “I AM the resurrection, and
the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And
whosoever liveth, and believeth in me shall never die…” (John 11:25,26) Whether
we die physically or are taken at the Rapture, true believers shall never die
spiritually and eternally.
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: “I AM the way, the truth,
and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) A simple
verse, full of monumental truth. The Lord firmly declares His deity by
acknowledging He is the Way to God, the Truth of God, and the Life in God!
THE TRUE VINE: “I AM the true vine….” (John 15:1a/15:1-26) In
the Old Testament, Israel is referred to as a vine, but Jesus is the True Vine
whose fruits endure forever! A vine has many branches and true believers are
those branches (John 15:5). By abiding in Him (John 15:4), we bear nine
spiritual fruits (Galatians 6:22-23), and being nourished by the TRUE VINE, we
will grow more Christ-like every day!
In these seven “I AMs”, Jesus has not only shown Himself as
the eternal Creator of all things, but He has clearly revealed that ONLY He is
the way to eternal salvation! What could be any clearer?
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12).
