YHWH shall be King over all the earth (Zech. 14:9). We are searching out the identity of this King. In a recent blog, I said that the Jews grew to understand the mysterious YHWH by adding His name to the ways that He interacted with them. For instance, YHWH (I AM) Jireh, provision; YHWH (I AM) Shalom, peace, etc. Let’s do the very same thing with the Lord Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is YHWH manifest in human flesh, one would expect Him to reveal His ministry to us exactly as YHWH did in the Old Testament. The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word YHWH (I AM) in the Old Testament are the words Ego Eimi (I AM) in the New Testament. Jesus Christ unveils His ministry to us with seven manifestations as the great “Ego Eimi.”
Ego eimi, I am the door of the sheep (Jn. 10:7-9). He is the only door that opens into the sheepfold – which must be symbolic of God’s Kingdom. To get in, one must come through the door, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ego eimi, I am the light of the world (Jn. 8:12). A strange characteristic of light is that it is invisible. Light rays cannot be seen, yet when no invisible light rays are present, nothing can be seen. What we see is a reflection of the light. Jesus Christ as the light of the world makes the invisible God visible. Jesus is the reflection of the light of God. Light is the starting place of all life. Without light, nothing lives. Jesus Christ as the light of the world is the source of life, real life, eternal life. He is the only means of removing the spiritual blindness of the soul. To know Him is to have the light of life (1 Jn.1:4).
Ego eimi, I am the bread of life (Jn. 6:35). Recall the manna that God fed the Jews as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years (Ex. 16:4). This mysterious bread met their need and sustained them physically. The psalmist called it “the bread of heaven” (Psalm 78:4). The Lord Jesus Christ unveiled the fact that the manna actually spoke of Him. He is the bread that came down from heaven. The one who comes to Him will never hunger nor thirst.
Ego eimi, I am the vine, you are the branches (Jn. 15:5). The vine gives its life through the branches. And the branches must be connected to the vine. Life and fruit will not come unless the branches are connected. Jesus said, “He who abides in me (the vine) will bear much fruit. For without Me, you can do nothing.”
Ego eimi, I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25-26). “The one who believes in Me though he may die, he shall live – and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” These are the words spoken by Jesus Christ to Martha at the death of her brother Lazarus.
Ego eimi, I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6). We live in a world that teaches that there are many ways to God. Many mistakenly believe that it does not make a difference what one believes, as long as they are sincere. This is not what Jesus Christ taught. Jesus told His followers He was going back to His Father’s house from which He had come. He was going to prepare a place for them and would return and take them there (Jn. 14:1-3). Thomas asked the question that we probably would have asked. “Where are you going and how can we know the way?” Jesus responded, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” That’s definite!
Ego eimi, I am the Good Shepherd, and I know my sheep and I am known by My own (Jn. 10:14; 25-27). The Good Shepherd said that He knew His sheep, and that they would follow Him. He said that He would give to them eternal life and they would never perish, and no one could ever take them out of His hand (Jn. 10:14, 27–28). There were some Jews in the crowd still asking the Good Shepherd for proof that He was the Christ. Many were just not convinced. The good Shepherd tells them why! John 10:25 gives us His exact words with no spin. We are still asking the question concerning the identity of the one named King over all the earth (Zech. 14:9). Stay safe and stay tuned.