Standing against a backdrop of pagan temples at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who people say he is. They reply, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” High opinions indeed, but they all fall short. So, Jesus asks directly, “But who do you say that I am?”

That’s the question this book seeks to answer – not from the plethora of opinions that emerged over the centuries or dot the cultural landscape today, but from the lips of Jesus himself. Through seven “I am” statements, Jesus of Nazareth leaves no doubt as to his true identity. From “I am the bread of life” to “I am the true vine,” Jesus reveals himself as the eternal Son of God, who added sinless humanity to his deity via the miracle of the virgin birth and then voluntarily laid down that life on the cross for our sins. As “the way, the truth, and the life,” he is our one sure hope of salvation.

Encountering Christ offers in-depth, readable explorations of Jesus’ seven “I am” statements recorded in the Gospel of John. Taken from a sermon series preached in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pastor Eddie Bumpers of Crossway Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri, helps readers understand who Jesus really is – and better yet, to know him personally.