THE GREAT I AM...CONTINUED

“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.