The Open Bible Trust Podcast

This ‘I AM statement’ was not said to the public, but just to the disciples. Why? And Jesus spoke about ‘My Father’s house’. Was this the temple or an allegorical reference to heaven?

Lazarus was dead, but Jesus declared ‘I AM the resurrection and the life’ to Lazarus’ to his grieving sister, Martha. But did that comfort her? Well ... What He did next certainly did!

Having stated that “I AM the gate for the sheep”, Jesus then says “I AM the good shepherd” while, at the same time, accusing the Jewish leaders of being bad shepherds, behaving as hired hands who cared nothing for the sheep.

“I AM the Gate for the Sheep” is one of the less well-known, or popular, I AM statements of Christ. However, the teaching behind it is profound. We find in John 10:1-10.

When Jesus said “I am the light of the world”, the temple and Jerusalem were lit up by four massive menorahs standing 75 feet high in the Court of the Women. They symbolised the pillar of fire that Israel followed in the wilderness but now … the true “light of the world” was in their midst. Would they follow Him?

“I AM the bread of life” is a well-known saying of Jesus, but what did He mean when He said they had to ‘eat’ His body and ‘drink’ His blood? This is a good discussion of John chapter 6.