In biblical times the Hebrew people used vivid expressions to describe their thoughts.

For example, they’d say, ‘the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the bad people” when referring to an earthquake. When in a joyful mood they might say, “the hills shouted for joy and the mountains clapped their hands”.

Such delightful figures of speech help the listener picture the scene being described. The earth didn’t actually “open its mouth” just at the mountains didn’t “clap their hands”. These figures of speech were meant to be descriptive, not literal.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes seven “I am” statements. These statements helped the listener (and reader) to understand why He had come into the world.

He said He was the door by which His sheep went out to find pasture and in to find shelter. (John 10:9)

He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35).

He also said “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12); “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11,14); “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25); “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6); and “I am the Vine” (John 15:1,5).

The imagery of His words made His truth easy to understand.

The original language of the New Testament is more explicit than our modern translations because the literal rendering of the statement is, “I, I am…”.

Jesus was saying that He was the One who could satisfy every need. By referring to Himself as “I am”, He was identifying Himself as God. “I am” is a name used of God in Exodus.

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

He deliberately worded His statements this way to make His point.

He clearly stated that He (and He alone) could strengthen and enable us to conquer all evil temptations, and to equip us to live godly lives.

Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good?

Are you living in the strength of the Lord or are your circumstances overcoming you and causing you to stumble and fall on a daily basis?

May you find yourself feeding on the living bread and overcoming the difficulties of life.

Jesus gives the same invitation to everyone when He said, “Come unto me all you who struggle and are weighed down and I will give you rest.”