Tuesday, 25th April 2023
Andrews Ampomah
TOPIC: I AM
THEME SCRIPTURE: “Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What did Jesus mean when He says I am?
- Why did He say before Abraham, I am?
One of the Bible's most amazing books is John's Gospel. Its central message is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and God, and that believing in him gives life (John 20:31). Irenaeus called the Gospel of John the "proclamation" and "teaching" of the gospel. It proclaims who Jesus is in his entirety and his teachings.
Jesus made several bold assertions of who he is and what he represents, and one of them is ‘I AM’.
In history, the first time we heard the words "I AM" was when God appeared to Moses in Exodus 3 and introduced himself as "I AM." He appeared to Moses at a time when Israel had been in slavery for over four hundred years. It was a pivotal moment in Israel's redemption from over 400 years of servitude. The name "I AM"—YHWH—reveals God's identity. He is the uncreated Lord of all, unchanging, eternal, infinite, and He is God. It was basically a significant moment when God revealed himself as having all power to redeem Israel from captivity.
When Jesus appeared by God's sovereign design, the phrase "I AM" was used for the second time, after another four hundred years. Theologians call this "the dark ages" (the time between the Old and New Testaments). "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58), Jesus told the Jews, claiming to be "I AM" and able to save humanity from sin.
Jesus claims "I AM" to affirm that He is God and equal to God.
He claims perfection. He claims to be divine. He claims to be preexistent. He claims to be eternal. He claims to be all-powerful and the creator of all things. Jews, knowing what it means to say "I AM," picked up stones to stone Jesus in John 8:59. Beloved in Christ, Jesus is as powerful and worthy of worship as God the Father. Because of this, Jesus said He and the Father are one.
By claiming the name “I AM,” Jesus affirms that he has all the power to bring redemption to all mankind.
Like God redeemed Israel from Egypt, Jesus redeems those who believe in Him. This redemption is from the power of sin and darkness (John 3:16). As the Lamb of God, he died on the cross to save us from God's wrath; reconciling us to God the Father.
Beloved, be assured in your heart that if you have Jesus, you have the ‘I AM’. You have with you wherever you go the self-existing and self-dependent God. The creator and redeemer of mankind is Jesus. If you are with Him and He is with you, you live a continuously victorious life. Rejoice always in Jesus, in whom you have believed, because He is greater than all. Hallelujah!
FURTHER READING – John 10:30
Call to Salvation: If you have not received salvation yet by turning over your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. Click here to do so
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- How sufficient is Jesus to you?
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, I affirm that Jesus is God and deserves all my worship and in him I have eternal life. Glory to his holy name, Amen.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Deuteronomy 10; Deuteronomy 11; Ecclesiastes 4; Acts 1
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