Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 71 Part 2
The 7 Signs and 7 “I Am” Statements of the Messiah:
- PART I. The Seven Signs of Messiah
- The Ultimate and Final Sign (the Resurrection of Messiah)
- The Spiritual meanings of the Seven Signs of Messiah
- PART II. The Seven “I Am” Statements of Messiah
- The “I Am” Statements of Messiah originate from the Tanakh
- “I Am the Bread of Life (i.e. the Bread of Heaven”)
- “I Am the Light of the world”
- “I Am the Gate for the sheep”
- “I Am the Good Shepherd”
- “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”
- “I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life”
- “I Am the true Vine”
The Seven “I Am” Statements of the Messiah:
(1) “I Am the Bread of Life.” (אני הוא לחם החיים)
(2) “I Am the Light of the world.” (אני אור העולם)
(3) “I Am the Gate for the sheep.” (אני הוא שער הצאן)
(4) “I Am the Good Shepherd.” (אני הרועה הטוב)
(5) “I Am the Resurrection and the Life.” (אני התחיה והחיים)
(6) “I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” (אני הדרך והאמת והחיים)
(7) “I Am the true Vine.” (אני הגפן האמתית ואבי הכורם)
The “I Am” Statements of Messiah originate from the Tanakh:
In the Tanakh the meaning of Adonai’s name (YHWH) is closely related to “I Am” (Exodus 3:14; 6:2; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 43:25; 48:12; 51:12).
First, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM (Eheye’ Asher Eheye’ which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be) and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel ‘I AM (Eheye’) has sent me to you.
Second, “See now that I, I Am He (Ani Ani hoo), and there is no God besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Third, “I, even I, am (Anochi Anochi hoo) the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
Fourth, “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel, My called one; I am He (Ani-hoo), I am the first (Ani rishon), I am also the last (Ani acharon).”
Fifth, “I, even I, am He (Anochi Anochi hoo) who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies and of the son of man who is made like grass?
Therefore, In the Tanakh we find that the same metaphorical images that Messiah uses to describe himself are used to describe Adonai (cf. references that follow each “I Am” Statement).
“I Am the Bread of Life (i.e the Bread from Heaven):”
First, then Adonai said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction (or law). On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily” (Exodus 16:4-5).
Second, “But now our appetite is gone (soul is dried up). There is nothing at all (for our eyes) to look at except this manna.” Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it; and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil. When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it” (Numbers 11:6-9).
Third, “He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them bread from heaven” (Psalm 78:24).
Fourth, “You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger, You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst, and You told them to enter in order to possess the land which You swore to give them” (Nehemiah 9:15).
“I Am the Light of the world (i.e. the Shekinah):”
First, “Adonai was going before them (Israel) in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” (Exodus 13:21-22).
Second, “Adonai is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1b)
Third, “I am Adonai, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, and I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison” (Isaiah 42:6-7).
“I Am the Gate for the sheep:”
“Know that Adonai is God. It is He who made us, and we are His we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 100:3-4a).
“I Am the Good Shepherd:”
First, “He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life (from the continuance of me) to this day” (Genesis 48:15).
Second, “Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters (waters of rest). He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:1-4).
“I Am the Resurrection and the Life:”
First, He will swallow up death for all time, and Adonai Elohim will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; for Adonai has spoken. And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is Adonai for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isaiah 28:8-9).
Second, “I know that my redeemer lives and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see Elohim” (Job 19:25-26).
Third, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness” (Psalm 17:15).
Fourth, “But Elohim will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me” (Psalm 49:15).
Fifth, “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24).
Sixth, “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).
Seventh, “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light (Psalm 36:9).
“I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life:”
“First, “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” (Proverbs 12:28).
Second, “Teach me Your way, Adonai, and lead me in a level path” (Psalm 27:11a).
Third, “Teach me Your way, Adonai; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11).
Fourth, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:5).
Fifth, “O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places” (Psalm 43:3).
Sixth, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm 119:160).
Seventh, “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11).
“I Am the true Vine:”
First, “O Elohim Tzevaot, turn again now, we beseech You; look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine, even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, and on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself” (Psalm 80:14-15).
Second, “For the vineyard of the Adonai Tzevaot is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress (Isaiah 5:7).
Third, “Yet I planted you a choice vine, a completely faithful seed” (Jeremiah 2:21a).
The spiritual meanings of each of the Seven “I Am” Statement of the Messiah will be explained in considerable detail in: Messiah in Sukkot chapters 13, and 20: and Messiah in HaBikkurim chapters 39, 41, 53, 60, and 69.