Jesus means He is the I AM—Jehovah God of the Old Testament—and the only access to the Father.
In John 14:6 Jesus uses the "I AM" formula that Les Feldick identifies with the great Old Testament name of God. Les points out that this statement is one of seven "I AM" sayings in John's Gospel, and that Jesus is claiming to be the pre-eternal, self-existent God who revealed Himself to Moses. The result is an exclusive claim: no one comes to the Father but through Him.
John 14:6 — This is the verse in question, where Jesus explicitly says He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
John 14:6 (KJV) says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This is a direct, first-person declaration from Jesus. He does not say that He merely shows the way, teaches truth, or gives life; He says that He is the way, the truth, and the life. The verse also makes the path to the Father exclusive: no one comes to the Father except through Him. The Gospel of John repeatedly uses this "I am" formula. Jesus says, among other things, "I am the bread of life," "I am the light of the world," "I am the door of the sheep," "I am the resurrection and the life," and "I am the true vine." In John 8:58, Jesus also says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
Les Feldick teaches that when Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life," He is claiming to be the great "I AM" of the Old Testament. Les explains that the name Jehovah, translated out of its contractions, stands for the I AM. So when Jesus takes that title in John 14, He is identifying with the God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush—the pre-eternal, self-existent God. Les also places this statement within John's seven "I AM" declarations. He explicitly names "I am the way, the truth, and the life" as one of those seven, and he connects them to the seven-fold Jehovah names in the Old Testament, such as Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Rapha. For Les, this pattern shows that Jesus is the same God who revealed Himself to Israel and who meets the seven distinct needs of Israel. Les then points to an eighth "I AM" in Revelation 22: "I am the bright and morning star." Since eight in Scripture speaks of new beginnings and finality, this final I AM points to the dawning of the eternal day. For Les, all of this is part of the distinct pattern that proves Scripture is divinely planned.
John 14:6 begins with the same "I am" phrase that runs through John's Gospel. Les explains that the Old Testament name Jehovah is understood through its contractions to stand for the I AM. So when Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life," He is not merely giving a direction or a description; He is making an identity claim. Les says Jesus is the I AM of the burning bush and the I AM of pre-eternity.
Les says there are seven distinct I AM statements in John's Gospel, and he explicitly includes "I am the way, the truth, and the life" as one of them. He connects these seven I AMs to the seven Old Testament Jehovah names that meet Israel's needs, such as Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-Rapha. For Les, the pattern shows Jesus fulfilling the same role as Jehovah God.
After the seven I AMs in John's Gospel, Les points to the eighth I AM in Revelation 22: "I am the bright and morning star." Les explains that eight in Scripture speaks of finality and new beginnings after the seven of completion. The morning star appears at the dawn of a new day, and Les connects this to the dawning of the eternal day.
Jehovah Is the I AM
Les begins his survey of the seven I AMs in John and explains that the name Jehovah comes from the I AM; this sets up the claim Jesus makes in John 14.
Jesus Is the I AM of the Burning Bush
Les explicitly connects Jesus's "I AM" sayings to the burning bush and to pre-eternity, and he names "I am the way and the truth" as one of the seven I AMs.
Seven Jehovah Names and Seven I AMs
Les says the seven I AMs in John parallel the seven Jehovah names in the Old Testament and identifies "I am the way, the truth, and the life" as one of them.
The Seven I AMs in John
Les lists the I AM statements in John's Gospel and then identifies the eighth I AM in Revelation 22 as "I am the bright and morning star."
Old Testament Jehovah Names
Les repeats the connection between the seven Old Testament Jehovah names and the seven I AMs in John, and he points to the eighth I AM in Revelation.
The Eighth I AM and New Beginnings
Les explains that eight follows seven as a number of finality and new beginnings, and he applies the morning star I AM to the dawning of the eternal day.
Jehovah-Jireh and the Eighth I AM
Les traces the seven Jehovah names, beginning with Jehovah-Jireh ("I AM your Provider"), and shows how the final I AM in Revelation is tied to the eternal state.
Before Abraham Was, I Am
Les stresses that Jesus's claim "before Abraham was, I am" reveals Him as the pre-eternal, self-existent I AM.
John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This is the verse in question, where Jesus directly claims to be the way, the truth, and the life and the only access to the Father.
Exodus 3:14: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Les connects the I AM name revealed at the burning bush to Jesus's "I AM" declarations in John's Gospel.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Les uses this verse to show Jesus claiming the same I AM identity as the God of the Old Testament.
Yes. Les Feldick explicitly counts "I am the way, the truth, and the life" among the seven distinct I AM statements in John's Gospel, alongside the bread of life, the light of the world, the door of the sheep, the resurrection and the life, and the true vine.
Les teaches that the Old Testament name Jehovah stands for the I AM. So when Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life," He is claiming to be the pre-eternal, self-existent God who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
Les points to Revelation 22, where Jesus says, "I am the bright and morning star." Les says eight in Scripture speaks of new beginnings and finality, and this I AM points to the dawning of the eternal day.
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