Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
Jesus is identified in the New Testament as I AM, an unmistakable claim for the deity. In the Old Testament, God designated Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex. 3:14). This name is an expansion of the verb “to be” and by it, God chose to reveal Himself as the One who eternally is. That is, He is without beginning, the One who is the active, dynamic, all-powerful, self-existent, eternal, uncreated, self -sustaining God, the One who was, is, and will be forever.
When we come to the New Testament, Jesus makes an undeniable claim for deity, claiming this same title for Himself. When He says, “I am the bread of life,” or “I am the light of the world,” He is identifying Himself as “I AM WHO I AM,” a clear statement of deity.
JESUS CALLS HIMSELF THE I AM
John 6:35, 41b, 48-51, 57-58 - Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. He said, I am the bread that came down out of heaven. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh. So Jesus said to them, As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.
John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.
John 8:24 - Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.
John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.
John 10:9 - I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:14 - I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.
John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.
John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.