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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, ESV).
We usually get bored when people talk about themselves. You know the feeling: you are trapped in a conversation with someone who only wants to recount their own achievements, hobbies, or opinions. It feels self-centered. But there is a fascinating exception to this rule. In the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about Himself more than in any other Gospel, yet we do not get upset—because of who He is.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke focus heavily on the history of what Jesus did: His travels, His miracles, and His interactions with the crowds. John, however, pulls back the curtain on Jesus’s personal side. In this Gospel, Jesus regularly explains His own identity.
We welcome this kind of self-disclosure in everyday life when the speaker has unique authority or status. If you are about to undergo surgery, you want your doctor to talk about themselves and lay out their credentials. If my granddaughters met Taylor Swift, they wouldn’t want to do all the talking; they would want her to talk about her life and her music. We want to listen to experts and icons. The same is true of Jesus in John. As the Author and Creator of the universe, when He tells us who He is, we don’t get bored—we listen.
When we hear Jesus talk about Himself in John, we encounter His famous seven “I AM” statements. Through these statements, He gives us His divine credentials and tells us exactly how He relates to our deepest needs:
- “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35) – He is the One who truly sustains us and satisfies our spiritual hunger.
- “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) – He offers direction and clarity in a dark, confusing world.
- “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7) – He is the protective entrance to security, peace, and salvation.
- “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11) – He loves us intimately, guards us, and even laid down His life for us.
- “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) – He holds power over death, promising eternal life to those who believe.
- “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) – He provides the definitive path and access to God the Father.
- “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1) – He is our source of spiritual energy and growth; apart from Him, we can do nothing.
When Jesus shares His credentials, we realize they are stupendous—listen closely: “I am the light of the world,” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” “I am the true vine.” As C.S. Lewis famously argued, if anyone other than Jesus made such personal claims, we would call them a liar or a lunatic, but not with Jesus. We call Him Lord.
Why do we believe Jesus?
He has the best credentials, even better than a medical degree from Harvard or selling out stadiums for concerts. At the end of the Gospel of John, He is crucified, and then on the third day, He is resurrected. This is why we call Jesus Lord, and why we don’t mind Him talking about Himself…
He is the only Person in history who conquered the grave by His own power.