Tag: door

The Seven “I AM” Declarations: Jesus Reveals Himself (Part 1 of 2)

Brent Pollard

When Jesus said “I AM,” He opened a door into divinity. God had told Moses His name: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3.14). That name—stark, eternal—declared self-existence and sovereign being. Centuries later, a carpenter from Nazareth used the same formula seven times in John’s Gospel.

John recorded these statements with a clear and deliberate purpose: to demonstrate that each “I AM” declaration is a signpost affirming both the divine identity and mission of Christ. Rather than serving as random metaphors, these statements specifically articulate how Jesus meets fundamental human needs and discloses what He offers to believers. Together, they form the thesis of John’s Gospel by answering the central question about Jesus’ true identity.

Let us walk through these seven declarations, not as scholars cataloguing data but as souls hungry for the Bread of Life, stumbling in darkness and desperate for Light.

The Bread of Life (John 6.35, 48, 51)

“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

The multitudes had just eaten their fill of fish and barley loaves. They wanted Jesus as a permanent meal ticket, another Moses who would give daily manna. But Jesus refused to be seen as a mere provider of bread that perishes. He called Himself the true bread from heaven—the source that fills not the stomach but the soul, meeting our deepest need.

We are born hungry for purpose, acceptance, and to fill a God-shaped void. We try to satisfy this hunger with achievements and pleasures. Yet earthly bread leaves us hungry again. Christ alone satisfies because He is life. To come to Him ends our soul’s restlessness.

The Light of the World (John 8.12; 9.5)

“I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Picture Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles, its massive golden lamps blazing in the temple courts, commemorating the pillar of fire that led Israel through the wilderness. Against that backdrop, Jesus makes His audacious claim: I am the true Light.

Darkness in Scripture is never neutral. It represents sin’s blindness, ignorance’s confusion, and the deep despair that comes from separation from God. To walk in darkness means to lack moral direction, to be unable to see or know God, and to experience the guilt and shame that result from this separation.

But Jesus does not merely illuminate the path—He is the path. He does not simply reveal truth—He is truth embodied. When we follow Him, we step out of the shadow of death into the light of life. We see clearly, perhaps for the first time, who God is, who we are, and what life is meant to be.

The Door (John 10.7, 9)

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

In the ancient world, a shepherd led his flock into a walled enclosure each night. There was a single opening—no gate, just an entrance. The shepherd would lie across it, making his body the door, a living barrier. No wolf could enter without facing him, and no sheep could slip out unseen. The shepherd as “door” meant protection and the only path to safety.

Jesus claims to be the only true entrance into God’s safety. No one climbs over by achievement. No one sneaks in with rituals. There is no other entrance called “good intentions” or “sincere beliefs.”

The exclusivity of the Door troubles our pluralistic age, but it ought to comfort our souls. For if Jesus is the Door, we know exactly where to enter. We are not left to guess which of a thousand paths might lead to God. We need not wonder whether our efforts are enough. The Door stands open. The Shepherd calls. When we enter through Him, we are saved.

The Good Shepherd (John 10.11, 14)

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Israel had sung of the Lord as their Shepherd in Psalm 23. The prophets had condemned Israel’s leaders as faithless shepherds who scattered the flock. Now Jesus claims the title for Himself—and defines it by the cross.

A hired hand flees danger. A false shepherd uses sheep. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, calls them by name, and lays down His life. The cross was not a tragedy; it was the Shepherd’s choice for His flock.

This is love without parallel. This is commitment beyond measure. And this is why we can trust Him even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Our Shepherd has already been there—and He has conquered it.

In our next article, we will explore the final three “I AM” declarations, where Jesus reveals Himself as the answer to our deepest fears, our greatest confusion, and our spiritual fruitlessness.

Jesus: The Only Door

In our culture, we’re bombarded with the promise of the “good life”—the American Dream. It’s sold as owning a nice house, driving shiny new cars, taking lavish vacations, and retiring to a life of leisure. But even those who achieve this dream often miss the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10.

Carl Pollard

In our culture, we’re bombarded with the promise of the “good life”—the American Dream. It’s sold as owning a nice house, driving shiny new cars, taking lavish vacations, and retiring to a life of leisure. But even those who achieve this dream often miss the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10. No matter how many commas are in your bank account, how new your car is, or how many rooms your house has, without Jesus, you don’t have life.

In John 10:7-9, Jesus declares, “I am the gate for the sheep.” This is the third of His seven “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John, echoing the divine name from Exodus 3:14. He’s not just a door—He’s *the* door, the only entry to a life of true satisfaction, security, and purpose. Forget the prosperity gospel that slaps Christian labels on the American Dream. Jesus’ abundant life isn’t about piling up stuff; it’s about being right with God through faith in Christ and having the hope of eternity in His presence. The Apostle Paul had next to nothing but was content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8) because he was rich toward God. In Philippians 3:8, he says, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” So, I’m asking you to examine your life: which door have you walked through? Jesus is the only door to abundant life, always open, but you’ve got to choose to step through.

Picture yourself lost in a freezing forest, stumbling onto a house with a roaring fire, hot soup, and a warm bed. But there’s no door—no way in. You’re stuck outside, desperate for what’s inside. That’s life without Jesus. He says, “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7), the sole entry to a relationship with God. In John 10, false shepherds—religious leaders, philosophies, or systems—promise access through works, sincerity, or rituals. Jesus calls them “thieves and robbers” (v. 8) who “steal and kill and destroy” (v. 10). The American Dream offers a wide gate—wealth, success, pleasure—but Jesus warns in Matthew 7:13-14 that the broad road leads to destruction. Other paths, like Islam, Buddhism, or even well-meaning people suggest salvation outside Christ, and miss the truth: “There is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). Jesus’ sinless life, authoritative teaching, miracles, and resurrection prove He’s the only way. He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Are you chasing a false door or trusting Jesus alone?

Jesus doesn’t just claim to be the door; He promises life-changing blessings. John 10:9 says, “If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jesus rescues us from God’s wrath, Satan’s schemes, and life’s futility. Our sin makes us God’s enemies (Romans 5:10), but Jesus took our punishment on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). Like a wolf licking a blood-coated blade, not realizing it’s killing itself, the American Dream lures us to spiritual death. Jesus saves us from false teachings and gives purpose, making this life the start of eternity (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Jesus offers security. “Go in and out” (v. 9) pictures a sheep’s freedom under the shepherd’s care, safe from wolves. Charles Spurgeon said believers can rest easy, protected by Christ’s power (Galatians 5:1). Unlike the shaky security of wealth, Jesus guards our souls, giving us direct access to God (Ephesians 2:18). Where do you feel trapped—guilt, fear, materialism? Jesus offers true freedom.

Jesus provides strength through “pasture” (v. 9)—spiritual nourishment like peace, purpose, and forgiveness. The American Dream leaves us chasing an elusive “something.” Jesus satisfies our deepest needs (Psalm 23:1). Are you spiritually starving, looking for fulfillment in success? Come to Jesus for lasting satisfaction.

Jesus’ blessings demand action: you must enter (v. 9). Just admiring the door—going to church or nodding at Jesus—won’t cut it. You’ve got to trust Him as Savior and obey His commands. This invitation is for “anyone” (v. 9). The world’s pleasures are a trap, promising life but delivering destruction. Jesus offers abundant life now and forever.

In Let’s Make a Deal, contestants pick between a visible prize and what’s behind a door. The visible prize—wealth, fame, pleasure, looks good but it means missing something better. Jesus, the true Door, offers salvation, security, and strength. Don’t stand outside wondering what could’ve been. Trust Him today, step through by faith, and receive this abundant life. The door’s open—will you walk through?