The scripture I picked for my I AM statement is John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
In John 1:1-18, Jesus is explained as the Word- a preexistent agent of creation present with Yahweh at the beginning of time. Jesus is the source of life, both physically and spiritually. Darkness represents spiritual death, destruction, and condemnation, a life apart from God due to sin. Jesus came down to earth as described in John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus uses the I AM statements as a claim to His divinity and to define His role as Savior. Without a savior, humankind is lost in sin, separated from God, and living in the darkness. Without God, there is no light, no hope, no way out of the judgment that comes with death.
Jesus is telling the people there is a new life if they believe in Him. The people who Jesus spoke to would have to believe Jesus was the coming Messiah. They would have accepted the grace that Jesus was offering. Jesus was the fulfillment of the law. The religious leaders knew their law and tradition, but they did not know the One who gave the laws because if they had, they would have recognized Him as the coming Messiah. At the time, Jesus made this statement, the feast of tabernacles where two colossal lampstands whose light was diffusing over the temple and city. Jesus made his claim that he was the light that was eternal and everlasting. The light of lampstand would soon fade and darkness would return.
Jesus promised in the latter half of the verse; if they follow Him, they would not walk in darkness but have the light of life. Not only was Jesus stating He was the Light of the world, but that each person who follows Him would have the life that came from Him. Darkness would not have any more control. They would no longer walk the path of darkness but experience the newness of life that only comes from knowing Jesus. Jesus uses the reference of light to point out that He is the Messiah. He is the One who will fulfill the prophecy of the old.
Brian I almost did my assignment of this. The I am the light is repeated said through out John. If you really read John he speaks many times about the light and seeing. I appreciate how you hit key points of Jesus ministry and how Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Great Job.