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July 3 Daily Devotional

The “I Am” Sayings

Peter G. Feenstra

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

Bible Reading

John 10:1–11

Devotional

A distinctive characteristic of the book of John is the reference to the “I am” sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those two words come forth from the mouth of Christ on more than one occasion. Most of them, if not all of them, are familiar to us. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life” (6:35, 41, 48, 51); “I am the light of the world” (8:12); “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (8:58); “I am the door of the sheep” (10:7); “I am the good shepherd” (10:11, 14); “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25); “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6); “I am the true vine” (15:1).

The apostle John highlights these sayings to drive home the main point of his account of the gospel: Jesus Christ, who from the beginning was with God and was Himself God, is the One who takes upon Himself our flesh and blood so that He might be for us the bread of life, the light of the world, the resurrection and the life, the way, the truth and the life. When Jesus says, “I am,” He doesn’t use the phrase in the same way we do. The phrase employed by Christ has its roots in the theology of the Old Testament where it is used by the LORD as part of His identification as the covenant God. Remember how the Lord spoke to Abraham, Moses and to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai? He said to Abraham, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” (Gen 17:1) At the burning bush the LORD commissioned Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. If anyone would challenge Moses’ authority he was to say, “I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14) On Mount Sinai the Lord addressed His chosen people saying, “I am the Lord your God.” The Jewish leaders realized Jesus was ascribing to Himself the covenant name of the Lord. That’s why they charged Him with blasphemy explaining, “You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Each of the “I am” sayings of Jesus has their own setting. When Jesus Christ declared “I am the bread of life,” He had just fed the five-thousand. After healing the blind man on the Sabbath Jesus announces, “I am the good shepherd” (9:16). Jesus lets it be known that He cares for His sheep every day of the week.

Let us thank the Lord for revealing to us Jesus as the great I AM. Our Saviour is our God!

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