In John chapter six, after Jesus feeds 5,000 men plus women and children with a few loaves of bread and fewer fish, Jesus says to the crowd still following him while hoping for another free-food handout, that they should seek the food that feeds them forever. Then, he shocks them by saying, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” He speaks figuratively about himself as God by saying “I AM.” Why? He has just contrasted himself with Moses’ manna and then identifies himself with the God of the burning bush, who says that his name is “I AM” (Exodus 3 &4).