The “I AM” sayings of Jesus

7 variations on a holy verb in the Gospel of John

Moses famously encountered the living God in a burning bush near Mount Sinai. Out of the flames, God revealed his mysterious name – I AM. This divine name, called the Tetragrammaton because, in Hebrew, it consists of four letters, is so sacred, pious Jews never pronounce it, and most Bible translations render it as a capitalised Lord.

John’s Gospel gives a unique account (without parallel in any of the other three Gospels) of Jesus repeatedly playing provocatively and creatively with this “holy verb” – a startling and evocative conjugation that gives insights into how incarnation can be understood and interpreted.

Our eight-week Bible study series on these I AM sayings of Jesus explores them one by one, placing them in the context of similar Biblical images and metaphors. What do these sayings reveal about the God called I AM? How can they help us understand who Jesus is and we are?

31 August        Introduction: “Leaping logic” and I AM John 8:54-59; Exodus 3:1-14
A gallery of associative word-pictures and a conundrum spoken from a bush

7 September  The Bread of Life John 6:25-59, 1-15; Exod. 12:15-20; 16:9-18; Numbers 4:5-8; Leviticus 2
Manna, showbread and cereal offerings – substantial stuff; chew it over; digest it fully

14 September  The Light of the World John 8:12 and 1:1-9; 3:19; 9:5; 12:35; 12:46; Luke 11:33-36
Beacons, lampstands, and a pillar of fire – and there was light

21 September  The Good Shepherd and the Gate John 10:1-18; Luke 15:1-7; Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34
Animal husbandry – of shepherds, gates, pens, flocks and mixed ovine metaphors   

28 September  The Resurrection and the Life John 11:17-27; Job 19:25; Ezekiel 37; Hosea 6:1-3
Αναστασις and εγειρω – life and new life, rising up, life before and after death

5 October        The Way, the Truth and the Life John 14:1-7, 15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; John’s Gospel
Εξοδος; Way (Acts 24:10-16); “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38); Abundant Life (John 10:10)

26 October       The True Vine John 15:1-11; Psalm 80:8-13; Ezekiel 15; 17:1-21; Isaiah 5:1-7; John 2:1-11
Viniculture and vintages prime and poor – can a bad lot be turned into a good batch?

2 November     Epilogue: Α and Ω Revelation 1:4-8; 21:1-7; 22:6-13
From A to Z, top to bottom, beginning to end – leaping logically through the whole shebang  

The Bible Study series begins on Tuesday 31 August. Each session starts at 19:30 hrs (7:30 p.m.).
Venue: the Dehling family home, Uhlandstrasse 60 – only a few minutes’ walk from the Mining Museum.
More information from Pastor Jimmy (0234 13365).