ἐγώ εἰμι in Mark and John: Exploring the Johannine Trajectory of a Received Memory of Jesus

The regular use of the ἐγώ εἰμι formulation is a critical component of the Fourth Gospel’s Christological presentation and has long been regarded as uniquely Johannine. Renewed focus on the possibility that John knew and reworked Mark has opened new vistas for thinking about John’s employment and reshaping of his received materials. Against that backdrop, this article suggests that Mark 6:45-52—the scene in which Jesus walks on water and includes one of three ἐγώ εἰμι pronouncements in Mark—is a clear theophany and is ultimately foundational for the development of John’s broader Christological vision.