Jesus, “I AM”

Jesus' controversial statement

• John 8:12-59
• "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!" (John 8:58)

God's Name in context

• Exodus 3: 13-15 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”  God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”  God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.   This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations."

The seven "I am" statements of Jesus:

• "I AM the Bread of Life" (John 6:32-58)
• "I AM the Light of the World" (John 8:12)
• "I AM the Gate for the Sheep" (John 10:7-10)
• "I AM the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11-16)
• "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25)
• "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:1-7)
• "I AM the True Vine" (John 15:1-6)

Other "I am" Sayings

• "You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I AM." (John 13:13)
• When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."(Matthew 16:13-17)
• The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!” (John 4:25-26)
• But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I AM," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:61-62)
• "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."  "Who are you?" they asked. "Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied.   "I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."  They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.  So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." (John 8:23-28)

OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW

• Psalm 23 - "The Lord is my shepherd." / John 10:11 - "I am the good shepherd."
• Exodus 15:26 - "I am the Lord who heals you." / Matthew 8:16-17 - "… healed all the sick … took up our sicknesses and carried our diseases."
• Exodus 17:15 - "The Lord is my banner." / John 12:32 - "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."
• Jeremiah 23:6 - "The Lord is our righteousness." / 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV - "… in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
• Judges 6:24 - "The Lord is peace" / Ephesians 2:14 - "Christ Himself has brought peace to us"
• Genesis 22:14 - "The Lord will provide" (a sacrifice) / John 1:29 - "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
• Jonah 2:9b - "My salvation comes from the Lord alone." / Matthew 1:21 - "You are to name him Jesus (the Lord saves), for he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus, the eternal unchanging I AM

• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
• “I AM the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” (Revelations 1:8)
• "I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelations 22:13)

Who do you say that He is?