Gospel is one of the most famous religious writings that shows the life of Jesus Christ and his death. According to Carson, John, who was the writer of the masterpiece, believed that people should follow Bible studies and consider the importance of their beliefs1. The clear flow of text makes readers more integrated into the process of reading and understanding the history of the great “I am,” which shows the most realistic event around Jesus.
The stories written in the Gospel were aimed to increase the population’s belief in something and make them more inspired to live normal lives. In John’s writing, Jesus defines himself with the phrase “I am” or “who am I,” and this technique makes him feel closer to the religious figure that can influence their lifestyle. There are seven main “I am” concepts written in the Gospel, which are linked to the Old Testament revelation of God that is the first part of the Christian Bible2. This paper will reveal the idea of the great “I am” and state its importance in creating the deity of Christ. Moreover, it will show the influence on individuals in the modern world and relate them to the facts taken from the Bible.
The beginning of John’s proposal of the great “I am” starts with one of the main sources of life: food. “I am the bread of life” became the key beginning of the Gospel. The story states that God managed to feed 5,000 people before he protected himself, and those who believed in his strength never got hungry or thirsty3. By promoting this quote, people rely more on the help of Jesus, and they build traditions based on his story and actions. “I am the light of the world,” states Jesus in the second part of John’s Gospel. It followed after the miracle when Jesus managed to treat a blind man who had been suffering from the issue since he was born4. Jesus has always told people that he is the world’s light, and this event helped him prove that this is right.
Jesus Christ has stated that he is the only way to get to heaven, and this belief has created an additional aspect of “I am,” which is known as “I am the door.” John shows that people should go through the “sheepfold” to ensure they pass all steps from death to another life5. Those who try to find different ways are considered robbers and someone who breaks the law. This statement has followed Jesus Christ to the thought that he should be fair to every living being, and the fourth “I am” has appeared, which is known as “I am the good shepherd”6. The human leader aims to protect subordinates all their life, believing that a good shepherd will lay his life for the sheep.
Jesus Christ always supports his statements with practical actions, and when raising people from the dead, he evaluates all positive and negative aspects that might appear. The religious leader considers helping different parties, and this passion has led to the creation of the “I am the resurrection and the life” statement7. Jesus has a superpower to control every person and be able to be at the right time in the right place8. People who believe in God feel more protected, and they can receive more of God’s blessing. The role of Jesus has created a clear and sinless appearance in people’s minds, and this aspect has created a new “I am,” which is “I am the way and the truth and the life”9. This belief shows that individuals can only come to a wise conclusion about their problems through Jesus. Then Father God can guide them on the right way.
The last “I am” summarizes all previous speeches and shows that Jesus is the center of every branch of life. “I am the true vine” shows John in his work as a concluding part of Jesus’s appearance, which binds people together in one living system10. The leader compares humanity with the grape vines as the branch does not give fruit if it is not connected to the main kernel. Individuals who are connected to God and believe in him receive the power to continue Christian life.
The “I am” statement is closely related to God and his representation in religion. According to Kostenberger, in the Old Testament, Jesus can change people’s minds and guide them in different directions to strengthen their beliefs11. Old Testament promotes isolation and deep analyses of personal actions. This is closely related to God’s proposals as people can unite with the leader by staying away from other people’s beliefs in silent places like churches. Old Testament proposes the thoughts that are rarely considered in the modern world but should be valued by young people who follow specific religions.
Jesus Christ is a teacher and role model for many religious followers who always need to believe in some things. The creation of the “I am” concept has approved the fact that the leader of the church is King of all kings and God of all gods12. Christ builds laws based on the miracles related to his actions and personality. The ability to support words with actions makes the deity of Christ more significant and powerful. For instance, the Bible proposes at least two events when Jesus healed incurable diseases. The blind man received a chance to see the world without obstacles, and the impotent man gained an opportunity to live a full and happy life.
The “I am” statement is closely related to the main eight miracles, and each can be a part of the seven aspects of Jesus’s concept. These phenomena build a stable representation of Christ’s greatness and make his figure clearer. Sill defines the key miracles and allows other experts to compare them to the general representation of Jesus Christ. The first wonder that surprised people is that the religious leaders turned water into wine and made this alcohol drink allowed in the world of religion13. The second miracle that made the deity stronger was the healing of the nobleman’s son by having an influencing speech. This aspect is closely correlated with one of the “I am” aspects which state that Jesus can change human minds and make them follow specific regulations14. The third surprising fact that happened to a person during the times of Jesus Christ is healing impotence, avoiding rituals that might negatively affect general health. This event also helps to find the relationship between “I am” statements and miracles that increase the deity of Christ.
The fourth miracle was connected to the ability to feed people during uneasy harvest times. It allowed people to feel more secure and be sure they could receive help if they believed in the power of Jesus15. The fifth phenomenon ensures those who refuse to believe that the supernatural power of Jesus is unique to the world and they should protect it to stay secure. This miracle is famous for Christ’s ability to walk on water as no other living person could not do this. The sixth wonder is similar to the second and the third miracles, as Jesus managed to heal a blind man from birth. No medical specialists could not help this problem, but the unique power of the religious leader allowed him to make one person’s life happier16. The last miracle is raising a person from the dead. Even though it is not natural to conduct this action, Jesus has evaluated all positive and negative aspects that might influence him, society, and Lazarus, who was raised from the afterlife.
For the student in the modern world, some facts might seem unclear and have no sense related to their personal life. However, by studying the action of Jesus Christ in more depth, young generations can become closer to the religion, which might help improve their studies. The belief in Jesus’s power can influence psychosomatics and increase the level of motivation and performance at colleges or universities. The truth of the Jesus Christ’s “I am” statements can help students concentrate on their personal growth and stay less influenced by their surroundings.
In conclusion, the events surrounding Jesus have made him one of the most influential in many religions. The miracles that Christ has done allowed him to make a crucial statement that motivates people to complete their tasks. The “I am” concept became closely related to the Old statement that showed the importance of God in people’s lives and increased the deity of Christ, which influenced the modern generation.
Bibliography
Brueggemann, Walter, and Linafelt, Tod. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Westminster John Knox Press, 2021.
Carson, D. A. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. APOLLOS, 2020.
Faithlife. “Biblia.”
Kostenberger, Andreas. Invitation of Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. Kregel Publications, 2021.
Loader, William. Jesus in John’s Gospel. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017.
Morris, Leon. Jesus is the Christ. Eerdmans Publishing, 1989.
Sill, Rev. Joseph. The Deity and Miracles of Christ. Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., 2018.
Footnotes
- Carson, D. A., The Pillar New Testament Commentary (APOLLOS, 2020), 2.
- Brueggemann, Walter, and Linafelt, Tod, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Westminster John Knox Press, 2021), 11
- Faithlife, “Biblia,” John 6:35. Web.
- Faithlife, “Biblia,” John 8:12. Web.
- Faithlife, ”Biblia,” John 10:7. Web.
- Faithlife, “Biblia,” John 10:11. Web.
- Faithlife, “Biblia,” John 11:25. Web.
- Loader, William, Jesus in John’s Gospel (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017), 13.
- Faithlife, “Biblia,” John 14:6. Web.
- Faithlife, “Biblia,” John 15:1. Web.
- Kostenberger, Andreas, Invitation of Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology (Kregel Publications, 2021), 20.
- Sill, Rev. Joseph, The Deity and Miracles of Christ (Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., 2018).
- Sill, Rev. Joseph, The Deity and Miracles of Christ (Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., 2018).
- Morris, Leon, Jesus is the Christ (Eerdmans Publishing, 1989), 16.
- Sill, Rev. Joseph, The Deity and Miracles of Christ (Christian Faith Publishing, Inc., 2018).
- Morris, Leon, Jesus is the Christ (Eerdmans Publishing, 1989), 19.