Jesus . . . In His Own Words

Ultimately, everything said about Jesus in the Bible is part of His own self-testimony. He is the ultimate Author of all Scripture. But I hope you will be encouraged, instructed, challenged, or perhaps even corrected by the following collection of things Jesus actually said about Himself. I’ll just list them for you, from John’s gospel account, leaving you to draw your own conclusions.

I Am the Bread of Life

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. . . . Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh. (6:35, 47-51)

I Am the Light of the World

I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. . . . If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. . . . Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. (8:12, 31-32, 51)

I Am the Door of the Sheep . . . I Am the Good Shepherd

Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because a he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd. . . . My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. (10:7-16)

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (11:25-26)

I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. . . . Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. . . . Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? . . . Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. (14:6, 9, 10-11)

I Am the Vine

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done or you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (15:5-8)

I Am the Son of God

Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because I said, “I am the Son of God”? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. (10:36-38)

I Am

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (8:56-58)