The Seven I Am Sayings of Jesus in John s Gospel 1. I am the bread of life John 6:35, 41 2. I am the light of the world John 8:12, 9:5 3. I am the door of the sheep John 10:7, 9 4. I am the good shepherd John 10:11, 14 5. I am the resurrection and the life John 11:25 6. I am the way, the truth and the life John 14:6 7. I am the true vine John 15:1, 5 Introduction to 7 Week Study John s gospel is unique in its emphasis on the deity of Jesus Christ! The opening verses of chapter 1 declare Jesus, the Word, to be God (vs. 1)! In fact, in chapter 1 alone, John states that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (vs. 14); he announces that in Jesus the glory of God has been seen (vs. 14); he further speaks of Jesus as the One who has made the invisible God known (vs. 18). And then we have the multiple I Am sayings scattered throughout John s gospel. The title I Am is the divine name revealed to Moses by the Lord in Exodus 3:14 from the burning bush. By taking on this name, Jesus is unabashedly claiming to be the Lord! The I Am sayings not only speak of Jesus identity, but each of the 7 I Am sayings reveal an aspect of Jesus mission. As we take these I Am sayings one-by-one, be sure to ask what each one reveals about Jesus identity and mission. It is my hope and prayer that the Lord will use this study to deepen your understanding of Jesus Christ, namely who He is, what He came to do, and what it means to follow after Him! Read John 6:22-59 Week 1 I am the bread of life John 6:35 Key Verse Vs. 35: Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life 1. Currently, where are you looking to find meaning, joy and satisfaction? 2. What miracle takes place before this passage and how does it relate to Jesus self-designation, I am the bread of life? What does this title, bread of life mean? 3. What Old Testament event does Jesus miracle recall and what does Jesus miracle reveal about His identity and mission? 4. How are we to understand the promises given by Jesus in vs. 35? How does someone receive the bread of life? 5. Read vv. 40 and 54. What is similar between the two verses and how does vs. 40 help us to understand what it means to feed on Jesus flesh and drink his blood? 6. In light of vs. 56, what does it mean to abide in Jesus and for Him to abide in you? 7. How might you use this passage to share the gospel with a friend?
8. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear? Read John 8:12-30 Week 2 I am the light of the world John 8:12 Key Verse Vs. 12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 1. What does the title light of the world say about Jesus identity and mission (why He came)? See Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 9:2; 42:6; 49:6; (Isaiah 59:9-10 and Isaiah 60:1-3). 2. What does light do and how does this image help us to better understand what Jesus came to do? 3. What is the promise in John 8:12? What does it mean to follow Jesus? See Mark 8:34. 4. What does it mean to walk in darkness? What does it mean to have the light of life? 5. What is the reason for Jesus authority? See vv. 16-17. 6. How might you use this passage to share the gospel with a friend? 7. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear? Read John 10:1-10 Week 3 I am the door of the sheep John 10:7, 9 Key Verses Vv. 7, 9: (7) So Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (9) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 1. In Jesus illustration how do the sheep respond to the shepherd? What does this teach us about the relationship between Jesus and His followers? What does the image of shepherd, applied to Jesus, teach us about His character? 2. What do vv. 3, 5 and 27-28 teach us about election and eternal security? According to our passage, how does one give evidence that they belong to Jesus? 3. What does the title door of the sheep reveal about Jesus identity and mission? See John 14:6. 4. What is the promise given in vs. 9? What does it mean to enter by [Jesus]? 5. How does Jesus compare to the thief in vs. 10?
6. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear? Read John 10:7-30 Week 4 I am the good shepherd John 10:11, 14 Key Verses Vv. 11, 14 (11) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (14) I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me 1. What does the title, good shepherd teach us about Jesus character? See Ezekiel 34:11-24. How has Jesus fulfilled this Old Testament passage? See also Mark 6:34. 2. What has the good shepherd come to do? 3. As the good shepherd, how does Jesus relate to His sheep and how should the sheep relate to Him? 4. Who are the other sheep in vs. 16? What does this passage teach us about God s plan for His people? 5. What does vs. 18 teach us about the Cross, the Resurrection and the Father s will? 6. How did people respond to Jesus teaching then? See vv. 19-21. How do people respond today? 7. Who are the sheep, how do they respond to Jesus and why? See vv. 27-30. 8. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear? Read John 11:1-44 Week 5 - "I am the resurrection and the life" - John 11:25 Key Verse - Vs. 25 - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life." 1. What is the purpose of Lazarus' death and Jesus' subsequent act of raising him from the dead? See vv. 4, 14-15, 42; 20:31. 2. What does Jesus mean when he says that He is the resurrection and the life (vs. 25)? What is the result of believing in Jesus? According to vs. 25, why should believers in Christ no longer fear death? 3. What stands out about Martha's response to Jesus in vs. 27?
4. How are we to understand Jesus' response in vs. 33? Why does Jesus weep in vs. 35 and what does it reveal about His identity? 5. What does Jesus' miracle in John 11 (of raising Lazarus from the dead) mean for Jesus and all followers of Jesus? 6. One of the major themes in John's gospel is the glory of God. See John 1:14. How is God's glory on display in our passage? See vs. 40. Where does this language of glory come from in the Old Testament and what does it say about Jesus identity and mission? 7. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear? 8. How might you use this passage to encourage a fellow follower of Jesus? Read John 14:1-14 Week 6 I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life John 14:6 Key Verse Vs. 6 - I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 1. What does it mean that Jesus is the way, truth and life? How does context (vv. 1-5) help here? 2. How are we meant to understand Jesus words in vs. 9? 3. What s the purpose of Jesus works according to vs. 11? 4. What s the promise in vs. 12? What s the relationship between the disciples doing greater works and Jesus departure to the Father? 5. How might you use this passage to share the gospel with a friend or neighbor? 6. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear? Read John 15:1-11 Week 7 I am the true vine John 15:1 Key Verse Vs. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 1. What does it mean that Jesus is the vine and we (the church) are the branches?
2. What is the warning in vv. 2 and 6? 3. What does it mean to abide in Jesus (vs. 4)? What are some things we can do as followers of Jesus to abide and help other believers to abide? 4. What is the evidence of someone abiding in Christ (vs. 5)? 5. What is the result (or effect) of bearing much fruit (vs. 8)? 6. What relationship stands out in vs. 10? 7. What is the result of following Christ s teaching in this passage (vs. 11)? 8. What encouraged you from this passage? What challenged you? What was unclear?