Master of Arts in Theology

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Jesus’ ‘I Am’ Sayings in the Gospel of John A Key to Understanding the Christ-Event
(Tangaza University College, 2014) Nuzagl, Kuupine Timothy
Throughout the Gospel of John, the author appears to attach a lot of importance to the use of the statement “I AM” such that it begs the attention of any critical reader. In several instances Jesus describes himself with certain images by means of “I am”: e.g. “bread of life” Jn 6:35.51, “light of the world” 8:12; “door of the sheep” 10:7 etc. the very fact that the statement often provokes some peculiar reaction from his hearers draws our attention to it. For instance in Jn 18:6 the soldiers who went to arrest Jesus in the Kidron valley, draw back and fall to the ground when Jesus pronounces the words “I am he”. Again Jesus tells the Jews, “Before Abraham was, I am” in Jn 8:58 and immediately they pick up stones to stone him. When all these instances are put together it seems clear that the Johannine author is saying something more than meets the eye. This is what has motivated me and I now undertake to examine what the scholars are saying with regard to these statements. We want to argue that the Johannine author’s use of these ‘I am’ sayings constitute a hermeneutic key to this Gospel. In addition to my personal reflection, I hope to come up with something worth the effort.