How do Jesus's I AM statements connect Him to the Jehovah of the Old Testament?
The I AM statements in John's Gospel echo the Old Testament 'I AM hath sent you' and tie Him directly to the person of Jehovah. Titles such as the door of the sheep, the Good Shepherd, the resurrection and the life, and the way, the truth, and the life identify Him as Jehovah God.
Les teaches that John's Gospel is so definite that Jesus referred to Himself as the I AM from the Old Testament economy; all these I AM's tie Him to the person of Jehovah all the way back to the Old Testament. He points to John 10:7, where Jesus says, 'I AM the door of the sheep,' and says He is the Jehovah God and the door of the sheep. In John 10:11, Jesus says, 'I AM the Good Shepherd,' the One who gives His life for the sheep. In John 11:25, speaking to Martha, He says, 'I AM the resurrection and the life.' In John 14:6 He says, 'I AM the way, the truth, and the life,' and no man cometh unto the Father but by.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
More Questions
How do the 'I AM' statements in John's Gospel show that Jesus is Jehovah God?
In John's Gospel, when Jesus uses the phrase 'I AM,' He is referring to Himself as the I AM from the Old Testament, thereby tying His identity to Jehovah God.
How many times does Jesus say I AM in the Gospel of John?
In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the phrase I AM seven times.