I Am

The thing that stood out to me today was the I am statements. John shares the words of Jesus, stating He is the bread of life, the living bread from Heaven. He is the light. He is I am. He is the gate. He is the good shepherd. He is the resurrection and the life. He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the vine.

““I am telling you the truth,” Jesus replied. “Before Abraham was born, ‘I Am’.”” John‬ ‭8‬:‭58‬

“I tell you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that ‘I Am Who I Am.’” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬ ‭‬

I am used to the words, “I am” spoken by Jesus. I have journaled them. Today what stood out is that as our bread, He is our food. As the shepherd, He is our comforter. As the gate, He is our protection. As the vine, He is our connection. These are very basic needs in our life. but what all other levels of need are built on.

Maslow’s hierarchy of need shows the first being physiological needs of food, water, sleep clothing and shelter. The Scriptures are filled with these examples. He is the living water. He is the bread of life. God clothes us with righteousness. He provides rest for our soul. He is our shelter.

““I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “Those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty.” John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬

“The people started grumbling about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭41‬ ‭

“I am the bread of life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭48‬ ‭

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.””
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭51‬ ‭

The second level is safety and security. He is the gate that keeps us safe. God is our protection. No weapon formed against us will prosper.

“So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬ ‭

“I am the gate. Those who come in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭‬‬

The third level is love and belonging. God is love. It can not be separate from Him, it is who He is. He has accepted us and we have the ability to stay connected to Him as our vine. He is our shepherd. We have fellowship with other believers and are adopted into the family of God.

““I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬ ‭

““I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭

The fourth level is self-esteem. While the world focuses on self, we have the light of God within us. We can do all things through Christ. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

“Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. “I am the light of the world,” he said. “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭

“While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭5‬ ‭

““I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬ ‭

“I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them.” ‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭‬‬

The final level is self-actualization, the ability to be our best self. There is nothing better than a person who allows Christ to fully work in and through them. That is what life is about, He gave us life through His resurrection. As believers we no longer love, but He lives in us. The same power that rose Christ from that dead, lives in each of us.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die;”. John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭‬‬

“Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬

Jesus, the Son of God the great I Am is everything we need. From our basic needs to the highest self actualization, it can all be met in and through Him.