Those Curious “I Am” Statements of Jesus

Introduction to the "I Am" Statements

            There is confusion in the world today about the person of Jesus of Nazareth. To non-believing-spiritual-but-not-religious people he is viewed as a great teacher, preacher, and instigator of social justice and political reform. To Christians, though, Jesus is believed to be the Son of God who is God—the Godman. He is 100 percent God, 100 percent human. He is, in the words of John the Baptizer, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29b).

            The church professes her ancient faith and belief in Christ through the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (Nicene Creed) where she confesses in the second clause:

 And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

      the only Son of God,

      begotten from the Father before all ages,

           God from God,

           Light from Light,

           true God from true God,

      begotten, not made;

      of the same essence as the Father.

      Through him all things were made.

      For us and for our salvation

           he came down from heaven;

           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

           and was made human.

           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

           he suffered and was buried.

           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

           He ascended to heaven

           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

           He will come again with glory

           to judge the living and the dead.

           His kingdom will never end.

            According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20)

Study

1. Read Matthew 16:13-14. According to these verses, what were misconceptions people

had about who Jesus was?

2. Read Mark 6:14-16. According to these verses, what were misconceptions people had about who Jesus was?

3. There are many different misconceptions about who Jesus was and is today, as well. Many don't understand His being, nature and character. Can you think of any that you've heard others mention?

Those Curious “I Am” Statements in John

            In the Gospel According to John, Jesus makes a number of curious statements regarding his identity. At numerous points (seven prepositional statements along with two others) Jesus says, “I am.”

·      I am the bread of life (6:35)

·      I am the light of the world (8:12, 9:5)

·      Before Abraham was, I am (8:58)

·      I am the gate for the sheep (10:7)

·      I am the good shepherd (10:11)

·      I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)

·      I am the way, the truth, and the life (14:6)

·      I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser (15:1)

·      I am he (18:5-8)

            What could have been so threatening by Jesus’ use of this first person, singular, present, active, indicative verb? The Greek term (transliterated) is Eggo Aimee, which is the equivalent of simply saying “is.”  Basically, “I am” = “is.” It has a sense of present-ness, past-ness, and future-ness. Perhaps a better way to think of the term “I am” is ongoing-ness.

            The first place in Scripture where we encounter this term is in Exodus chapter 3. We must first go to Exodus 3 in order to understand the significance of this innocuous term, which Jesus used to the consternation of the religious and political elite of his day. It is a term packed with religious imagery and meaning, and it helped to bring about Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

Study #1:Exodus 3:1-14, The First "I Am"

The Lesson

• Read Exodus 3:1-14 straight through.
• Read 3:1-4 again. Verse 2 states that “an angel of the LORD” stood in the flame.” Verse 4 then calls the angel, “LORD” and in same verse states that “God called to him out of the bush.”
• Who do you think this angel of the LORD is?

This is, at minimum, a theophany. The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms defines a theophany as, “An appearance of God that is perceptible to human sight.”

Note that a theophany is not necessary a physical appearance of God, but can be a spiritual/ethereal appearance of God.

Moses at Burning Bush (Exodus 3)

·      Read 3:5-6. Note that at v. 6 God says “I am” not “I was.” What is the significance of this claim? (see Matthew 22:29-33)

·      Read 3:7-10. What is the LORD telling Moses he is going to do? Who is God sending to make this happen?

·      Read 3:11-12. What is Moses’ reaction to God’s calling? How does God respond to Moses?

·      Read 3:13 and then read Psalm 9:10. A name was not merely a form of address. It was also a means of knowing a person’s character and personal qualities. Why would this be important to Moses?

·      Bearing in mind the importance of a name regarding a person’s character and personality, read 3:14-15.  God, speaking from the bush that is not being consumed by fire, states that his name is simply “hayah” in Hebrew or “Eggo Aimee” in Greek. Both of those languages transliterate into “I Am” or “Is” in English. The Lord is not defined or determined by anything other than himself. Who is God? He is. That is, he has always been, he is currently, and he always will be (see Revelation 1:8!).

·      Ancient Hebrew did not use vowels, only consonants. The English equivalent of this is YHWH (Yahweh). It is a name considered so sacred to Jewish people that it is never spoken aloud for fear of using it in vain, thus breaking the Second Commandment.

·      From the burning bush that is not consumed by fire, God—through a theophany of some sort—reveals his name (and so, his nature) to Moses. This is the name he will go by from now on. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob new God by the name “God” (Adonai) or Lord God (El Shaddai), but from now on he is to be called “I Am” (Yahweh).

o   At the beginning of this reading, 3:1-4, the name given to God by the burning bush was the name that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and all the Patriarchs) knew him as (Adonai) “God.” It is difficult in English bibles to see the difference between the LORD in v. 4 and the LORD in v. 15.

o   God is, in effect, telling Moses that a new epoch in his relationship with his people is beginning. This is the new name, previously unknown, that they are to know him by.

o   This is the name/title that Jesus is assuming throughout the Gospel According to John.