Jesus, the I AM

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 8:48-59

 

John 8:58

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

(NKJV)

 

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in the United States, a national holiday set aside to honor those who gave their lives in the defense of the nation. If you are reading this and know someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country, I want to honor their service to our country and how it contributes to maintaining the freedom I have to share what I share in this blog. May God bless the friends and families of these brave men and women.

 

Jesus’ previous statement that the Jews He was speaking with at the temple are not of God leads to them telling Jesus He is a Samaritan and has a demon (John 8:48). Jesus reminds them He does not have a demon but honors His Father, while these Jews dishonor Him (John 8:49). Jesus once again reminds them that He does not seek His glory but reminds them there is One who seeks and judges (John 8:50). Jesus then makes a profound statement, saying that anyone keeping His word shall never see death (John 8:51).  

 

This profound statement causes the Jews to believe without a doubt that Jesus has a demon because Abraham and the prophets are dead. By saying that anyone not keeping His word will see death, Jesus is saying that Abraham and the prophets did not keep His word (John 8:52). The Jews then accuse Jesus of claiming to be greater than Abraham and the prophets (John 8:53). Jesus replies by reminding them that if He honors Himself, His honor is nothing but that it is God who honors Him, the same God they claim is their God (John 8:54). Jesus again accuses them of not knowing God the Father, reminding them that He knows God the Father and would be a liar if He claimed not to know Him (John 8:55). Jesus makes another profound statement, saying that Abraham saw His day and was glad (John 8:56)

 

This profound statement causes more discord among the Jews with them wondering how Jesus, who is not even 50-years old could have seen Abraham (John 8:57). Jesus makes one final profound statement, saying that even before Abraham existed, I AM (John 8:58). What makes this statement profound is Jesus is claiming to be the one Moses encountered at the burning bush (Exodus 3). This angers the Jews to the point of wanting to stone Him, but Jesus hides himself from them and walks through them and out of the temple in another miracle, demonstrating He is I AM (John 8:59).

 

The Jews still do not understand who Jesus is, now accusing Him of having a demon (John 8:48). These Jews claim to be children of Abraham, which they are by birth, but Jesus is not speaking of their biological lineage but their spiritual lineage. Their spiritual lineage is not of God because God is standing in front of them, and they do not understand that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh. Abraham did see Jesus and rejoiced at seeing the Lord’s day which is to come when Jesus dies for humanity’s sins and resurrects from the dead (Genesis 22:11-14). Because these Jews do not understand who Jesus is, they cannot understand how someone not yet fifty could have seen Abraham (John 8:57). Jesus makes one more attempt to identify who He is by telling them he is the I AM, the one Moses spoke with at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). Jesus has presented His credentials to this group of Jews and yet they do not believe and seek to stone Him.

 

Everyone reading this must ask themselves, do I know in my heart who Jesus is? It is not enough to know Jesus existed, for even the devil believes at this level (James 2:19). The Jews in this passage believed in Jesus’ existence because he was right in front of them. The question we all must ask is not whether we believe Jesus existed but rather, do we believe he is I AM (John 8:58). Do I believe Jesus is the way, truth, and the life (John 14:6). Do I believe, like Peter, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-16). Most importantly, we must ask ourselves if our relationship with Jesus is what we treasure most in our hearts (Matthew 6:21). If your answer to any of these questions is not a definite yes, I encourage you to search your heart and ask God to help you identify who Jesus truly is in your heart.

 

If you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the grave but have not made a public confession of this belief, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision, especially anyone who has been praying for you, or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and follow through with water baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.