“THEN MOSES SAID TO GOD, ‘BEHOLD, I AM GOING
TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL, AND I SHALL SAY TO THEM, ‘THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS HAS
SENT ME TO YOU.’ NOW THEY MAY SAY TO ME, ‘WHAT IS HIS NAME? WHAT SHALL I SAY TO THEM?’ GOD SAID TO MOSES, ‘ I AM WHO I AM’; AND HE SAID, ‘THUS YOU SHALL SAY TO THE SONS OF
ISRAEL, ‘ I AM HAS SENT ME TO
YOU.” EXODUS 3:13-14
“JESUS SAID TO THEM, ‘TRULY,
TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM” JOHN 8:58
Jesus equated Himself as God when
He declared, “I AM HE.” (John 8:18, 24) This was the same wording used by God when He
spoke to Moses and said to tell the Israelites His name was “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:13-14) To claim
this was blasphemy in the eyes of the ruling authorities of the nation of
Israel, the punishment for such a statement being death. Jesus was declaring that He existed with God before
time began, before the stars were created, before Abraham was born.
In John Chapter 1, verses one and
fourteen it states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw
His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and
truth.” Then, throughout the Gospel of John,
there is a running thread of the great I
AM who walked and taught among the nation of Israel and the surrounding
areas. These are statements by Jesus
Christ Himself:
·
“I AM
THE LIVING BREAD” that came down out of heaven…” (John 6:48).
·
“I AM
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but
will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12).
· “I AM
THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP. All who come
before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” (John 8: 10:7-8) and “if anyone enters through
Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
·
“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; the good
shepherd lays down His life for His sheep,” (John 10:11) “and I know my own and
My own know me.” (John 10:14)
·
“I AM
THE SON OF GOD”. “I and the Father are
one”. (John 10: 36,30)
·
“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; he
who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and
believes in Me will never die.” (John
11:25)
· “I AM
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; no one comes to the Father but through
Me.” (John 14:6)
·
“I AM
THE VINE, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much
fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Our God is such a practical God! While Jesus ministers on this earth, He gives
us word pictures in His teachings that helps us understand our invisible God
made visible. Jesus is the resurrection and
the life: He laid down His life
for us, but then He was resurrected and rose from the grave 3 days later! Eternal
life springs forth from Him. Jesus
is the way, the truth and the life:
He came so we can have life and have it abundantly. He always speaks
truth into our hearts, guides and directs our footsteps, and gives us life
everlasting. No one comes to the Father but through Him. Jesus is the door: If we open our
hearts to Him, we have the privilege of entering His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise. Jesus
is the Good Shepherd: He
restores our souls, guides us in the paths of righteousness, and leads us
beside quiet waters to be nurtured by Him.
He gives us everything we need for godliness and provides us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, including His Holy Spirit to guide
and direct us. Jesus is the light of the world: He
delivers us from darkness, brings everything into His Light, and works all
things together for good to those who love Him and who are called according to
His purpose. Jesus is the vine: We can do nothing
apart from Him, but when we abide in Him and walk with Him, we have purpose and
meaning to our lives and bear much fruit for His glory. Jesus is the bread of life: He is our manna from heaven. We break
bread together when we open up His Word daily and feast on Him.
How about you? What is the first thought you have when you
hear the name “Jesus”? To think of Him
as only a good Teacher or a great Prophet is impossible after you have read His
claims of being Emmanuel, God with us. Either
He is God in our midst or He is not. So you have 2 options. Do you want to call Him a blasphemer and pick
up stones to kill Him, oppose Him, and dismiss His claims? Or do you want to answer “yes” to the question
Jesus is asking you, “Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25). If you do, then you will enter into a personal relationship
with the God of this Universe through His Son, Jesus Christ. You will have communion
and fellowship with the God of Glory. Why not enter into abundant life filled with
joy and wholeness today? He is knocking
at the door of your heart. Answer His
call by praying and allowing Him to enter in. If you already have, then celebrate
His goodness and mercy, rededicating your heart to Him and praising His name
for all the blessings He has bestowed on you; rejoice in His goodness and your
relationship with Him today and every day.
