This is an important question for Christians who believe Jesus is God. While Jesus never explicitly said the words “I am God” in the Bible, He did make several claims that revealed His divine identity and equality with God the Father. In this article, we will examine the claims of Jesus that implicitly demonstrate He believed He was God.
The “I Am” Statements
Jesus frequently used the phrase “I am” in a distinctive way in the gospels, likely alluding to God’s name in Exodus 3:14. In the Old Testament, “I Am” is the name God used for Himself when speaking to Moses from the burning bush. By applying “I am” statements to Himself, Jesus associated Himself with Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament.
Some of Jesus’ notable “I Am” statements include:
I Am the Bread of Life
In John 6:35, Jesus states, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus claimed He could permanently satisfy spiritual hunger and thirst.
I Am the Light of the World
In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Here Jesus claimed to spiritually illuminate those who follow Him.
I Am the Gate
In John 10:9, Jesus states, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” Jesus presents Himself as the only way to salvation.
I Am the Good Shepherd
In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus highlights His sacrificial care for His people.
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
In John 11:25, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” Here Jesus claims power over life and death.
I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
In John 14:6, Jesus states, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus emphasizes His exclusivity as the path to God.
By making these bold claims about His identity using “I am” statements, Jesus indicated He is the fulfillment of God’s promises and character revealed in the Old Testament. The way Jesus used the “I am” formula parallels God’s statements about Himself in Isaiah, such as “I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he” (Isaiah 41:4) and “I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me” (Isaiah 43:10).
The Seven “I Am” Statements in John
The Gospel of John records seven explicit “I Am” statements of Jesus:
| Statement | Reference |
|---|---|
| I am the bread of life | John 6:35 |
| I am the light of the world | John 8:12 |
| I am the gate | John 10:9 |
| I am the good shepherd | John 10:11 |
| I am the resurrection and the life | John 11:25 |
| I am the way and the truth and the life | John 14:6 |
| I am the true vine | John 15:1 |
Through these powerful statements, Jesus equates Himself with God by taking Old Testament symbols and applying them to Himself. He claims to be the source of spiritual nourishment, light, guidance, and eternal life.
The Reaction of the Religious Leaders
The Jewish religious leaders clearly understood from Jesus’ words and actions that He was making Himself equal with God. This is precisely why they plotted to kill Him.
In John 5:17-18, the religious leaders began persecuting Jesus because He said “My Father is working until now, and I also am working.” Their reaction shows they understood Jesus’ claim to have the same power and authority to act on the Sabbath as God himself.
In John 8:58, Jesus said to the religious leaders, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” The religious leaders understood Jesus was identifying Himself with the eternal “I Am” of Exodus 3:14. That’s why they immediately picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy.
In John 10:33, the religious leaders said to Jesus, “We are not stoning you for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” The context reveals this accusation was in response to Jesus’ “I am” statements.
The high priest Caiaphas later directly asked Jesus, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mark 14:61). The religious leaders understood the Messiah was more than a human agent of God; He was the Son of God and thus divine. Jesus answered Caiaphas in the affirmative, and Caiaphas tore his robes and accused Jesus of blasphemy, a crime punishable by death.
The Absolute Uniqueness of Jesus
In addition to His “I am” statements, Jesus indicated He was God through the unique authority, attributes, and identity He claimed:
He claimed authority to forgive sins
When Jesus told a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven, the religious leaders rebuked Him, saying only God can forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12). Jesus then demonstrated His authority to forgive sins by healing the paralyzed man. The people glorified God because no ordinary human could forgive sins and miraculously heal in this way.
He claimed power over life and death
Jesus not only predicted His own death and resurrection, but He also raised several people from the dead during His ministry to demonstrate He had authority over life and death. Some examples include raising Lazarus (John 11), Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:35-43), and a widow’s son (Luke 7:11-16). Jesus even declared He would one day raise the dead when He stated “a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out” (John 5:28-29). The ability to give life to the dead was something Scripture assigns only to God (1 Samuel 2:6).
He received worship
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, many people worshiped Him, and He accepted their worship. The Old Testament consistently forbids worshipping anyone other than the one true God (Exodus 34:14). However, Jesus freely received worship as did the incarnate God of the Old Testament.
Examples of Jesus accepting worship include the resurrected Jesus accepting worship from Mary Magdalene and the other women who came to the tomb (Matthew 28:9) and the resurrected Jesus accepting worship from His disciples (Matthew 28:17). Even in the womb, the unborn Jesus received worship from John the Baptist (Luke 1:41-44).
He claimed oneness with the Father
Jesus explicitly claimed to be one with God the Father. In John 10:30 Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one.” In John 14:9, Jesus tells Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Hebrews 1:3 calls Jesus “the exact imprint of God’s nature.”
Jesus asked the religious leaders why they wanted to stone Him for blasphemy. He answered, “For good works we stone you not, but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:33). The authorities clearly understood that Jesus claimed equality with God in absolute unity.
Conclusion
While Jesus never explicitly stated “I am God” verbatim in Scripture, He made several claims that revealed His divine identity. Through His “I am” statements, Jesus associated Himself with God’s name and character. By claiming to have the authority and power to forgive sins, give life, and judge the world, Jesus showed He believed He was God. The religious authorities understood Jesus was making Himself equal with God, which is why they sought to kill Him for blasphemy. The unique titles Jesus applied to Himself, the worship He accepted, and His claim to oneness with the Father all indicate He identified Himself as God incarnate. By careful examination of Christ’s words and the gospels as a whole, we see ample evidence for Jesus’ claims to divinity despite the absence of a verbatim “I am God” statement.