THE 7 SYMBOLIC DAYS IN THE BEGINNING OF SAINT JOHN'S GOSPEL
John 1:1-2:1 symbolize the first week of creation which ended on the 7th day with the wedding of Adam and Eve. John's week ends with the wedding in Cana.
| Day #1 | 1:23-28 "This was the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem..." "This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing." |
| Day #2 | 1:29-34 "The next day..." "I have seen and I testify that he is the Son of God." |
| Day #3 | 1:35-42 "The next day..." "You Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas-which means Rock." |
| Day #4 | 1:43-51 "The next day..." "...you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man." |
| Day #5-6 | |
| Day #7 | 2:1 "On the third day"...[from the last day which was day 4] there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee." |
Michal Hunt, Copyright © 2003 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.
THE 7 SYMBOLIC "I AM" METAPHORS OF JOHN'S GOSPEL
Jesus identifies Himself with the significant and symbolic words: I AM, ego ami, which reminds us of Yahweh's revelation of Himself to Moses3 times as I AM in Exodus 3:13-14. In John's Gospel Jesus will use these words 26 times and in 7 different metaphors [each used with a predicate nominative]:
| 1. 6:35 | "I AM the bread of life" |
| 2. 8:12 | "I AM the light of the world" |
| 3. 10:7 | "I AM the gate for the sheep" |
| 4. 10:11 | "I AM the good shepherd" |
| 5. 11:25 | "I AM the resurrection and the life" |
| 6. 14:6 | "I AM the way and the truth and the life" |
| 7. 15:1 | "I AM the true vine" |
Michal Hunt, Copyright © 2003 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.
St. John will also record four "I AM" statements in which Jesus does not use a predicate nominative:
Jesus' "I AM" statements with and without the predicate nominative in St. John's Gospel
| "I AM" with predicate nominative | "I AM" without predicate nominative | ||
| 1. 6:35 | "I AM the bread of life" | 1. 8:24 | "...if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." |
| 2. 8:12 | "I AM the light of the world" | 2. 8:28 | When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I AM (He)* |
| 3. 10:7 | "I AM the gate for the sheep" | 3. 8:58 | "In all truth (Amen, amen) I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I AM." |
| 4. 10:11 | "I AM the good shepherd" | 4. 13:19 | "I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I AM (He)*" |
| 5. 11:25 | "I AM the resurrection and the life" | ||
| 6. 14:6 | "I AM the way and the truth and the life" | ||
| 7. 15:1 | "I AM the true vine" | ||
* the pronoun "He" is not in the Greek text.
Michal Hunt, Copyright © 2003 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.