Jesus is LORD In The “I Am” Sayings

Psalm 63:1-8, Exodus 6:1-13 

 John 8:48 The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."52 The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."57 So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

 

Jesus is LORD In The "I Am" Sayings 

There is no substitute for Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can save us from our sins and give us the grace we need to live for Him. If you want fullness of life, you have to go to Jesus.  It's a tragedy for us to have an active life and then at the end discover that nothing we did would last.

The I AM statements recorded in Scripture reveal the depths of the Christian life and how God's children can go deeper by living with Jesus now. One of the key words in John's gospel is life, used at least thirty-six times; and the seven I AM statements all relate to John's theme of spiritual life in Christ. Jesus called Himself "the bread of life" (6:35, 48,) and "the light of life" (8:12). It is in Jesus that we have life.   This is only possible because Jesus is much more than a man.  Jesus said "I Am" to highlight an important truth. It highlights Who He is.  And Because of Who He is, the "I Am", we can have a life changing relationship with Him that is called Life!

The Holy Spirit selected John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, to share these truths to prove that Jesus Christ is the I AM, the very Son of God. "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30–31).

Going through John's gospel, the Lord Jesus continually asserted "I am".  Seven times He used pictures of Who He is!

"I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE"    "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD"    "I AM THE DOOR"

"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD"   "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE"

"I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE"   "I AM THE TRUE VINE"

In His I AM statements, Jesus not only tells us who He is, but He also tells us what He can do for us and what we can become through Him. If we are spiritually hungry, He offers us the bread of life. To those walking in darkness, He gives the light of life; and we need not fear death, because He is the resurrection and the life. Can we be sure of going to heaven? Yes, because He is "the way and the truth and the life" (14:6). Can our lives be fruitful for His glory? Yes, if we abide in Him and draw upon His life.  In Jesus Christ, the great I AM, we have all that we need now and for eternity!

1. THE SOURCE OF THE "I AM" SAYINGS

The Lord Jesus did not speak "in a vacuum" when He spoke these I am sayings. Each of these "I am sayings is rooted in the Old testament revelation of God to the Jewish people.  It is rooted in the whole idea of God as Jehovah, Yahweh:

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"  —Exodus 3:13

The Greek philosophers wrestled with the problem of knowing and naming God. "But the father and maker of all this universe is past finding out," Plato wrote in his Timaeus dialogue, "and if we found him, to tell of him to all men would be impossible." He said that God was "a geometrician," and Aristotle called God "The Prime Mover." No wonder the apostle Paul found an altar in Athens dedicated to the "Unknown God" (Acts 17:22–23). The Greek philosophers of his day were "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12). But thinkers in recent centuries haven't fared much better. The German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Hegel called God "the Absolute," and Herbert Spencer named Him "the Unknowable."

But God wants us to know Him, because knowing God is the most important thing in life!

Exodus 3:13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt,17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey."'

Yahweh, Jehovah, has the meaning of "I Am." 

The special name of God doesn't have vowels in the Hebrew language, therefore knowing its exact pronunciation is difficult. Jehovah's Witnesses probably aren't correct, it is probably pronounced Yahweh. The name I AM comes from the Hebrew word YHWH. To pronounce this holy name, the Jews used the vowels from the name Adonai (Lord) and turned YHWH into Yahweh (LORD in our English translations). The name conveys the concept of absolute being, the One who is and whose dynamic presence works on our behalf. It conveys the meanings of "I am who and what I am, and I do not change. I am here with you and for you."

The Name occurs 6,823 times in the Old Testament . Exodus 33:17 And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." .. 19 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Ex 6:2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD.3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.

Based upon the number of times the word (Yahweh) appears before Exodus 6:3, and the various ways in which it was used, maybe Abraham and Isaac and Jacob did know the Name Yahweh.

2. THE SENSIBILITY OF THE I AM SAYINGS

The expressions "to know the name of Jehovah" or simply "to know Jehovah" frequently mean more than a mere awareness of His name and existence. Rather, "to know" (from the Hebrew word yada) often means to learn by experience. When Samuel was a boy, the Bible reveals that he "ministered before/unto Jehovah" (1 Samuel 2:18; 3:1), and "increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men" (2:26). Later, however, we learn that "Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, neither was the word of Jehovah yet revealed unto him" (1 Samuel 3:7, emp. added). In one sense, Samuel "knew" Jehovah early on, but beginning in 1 Samuel 3:7 his relationship with God changed. From this point forward he began receiving direct revelations from God (cf. 1 Samuel 3:11-14; 8:7-10,22; 9:15-17; 16:1-3; etc.). Comparing this new relationship with God to his previous relationship and knowledge of Him, the author of 1 Samuel could reasonably say that beforehand "Samuel did not yet know Jehovah" (3:7).

According to Gleason Archer, the phrase "to know that I am Jehovah" (or "to know the name of Jehovah") appears in the Old Testament at least 26 times, and "in every instance it signifies to learn by actual experience that God is Yahweh…" (1982, pp. 66-67). In the book of Exodus alone, the expression "to know" (yada) appears five times in relation to Jehovah, and "[i]n every case it suggests an experiential knowledge of both the person and power of Yahweh. In every case the knowledge of Yahweh is connected with some deed or act of Yahweh which in some way reveals both His person and power" (Davis, 4[1]:39). For example, in the very passage that has drawn so much criticism, God stated: "I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians" (Exodus 6:7, emp. added). Later, after God already had sent ten plagues upon the Egyptians (Exodus 7:14-12:30), parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14), and miraculously made bitter water sweet (Exodus 15:22-25), He said to Moses, "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God"(Exodus 16:11-12, emp. added). After several more weeks, God said to Moses on Mount Sinai: "And they shall know that I am Jehovah their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Jehovah their God" (Exodus 29:46, emp. added). Did the Israelites not know Who Jehovah was by this time? Without question, they did. "They had already learned of Him as deliverer; now they would know Him as their provider" (Davis, 4[1]:39).

"To know" (and specifically "to know" a name) frequently means more than a mere awareness of a person. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew God as Creator and sovereign Ruler of the Universe. But it would not be until centuries later, when God fulfilled the promises made to these patriarchs by delivering the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage, that the full power of the name Jehovah would become known.

And it was not until the Lord Jesus revealed the Father that you and I can really know God.

John 1: 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

Now the name Yahweh/ Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew verb havah, "to be," or "being." This word is almost exactly like the Hebrew verb, chavah, "to live," or "life." One can readily see the connection between being and life. Thus when we read the name Jehovah, or Lord in capital letters, in our Bible we think in terms of being or existence and life, and we must think of Jehovah as the Being who is absolutely self-existent, the One who in Himself possesses essential life, permanent existence.  Isaiah 43:10–11: "I am he. Before me no [Elohim] was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am [Jehovah], and apart from me there is no savior." Then in Psalm 102:27 we read: "But you remain the same, and your years will never end."  There is a sense of God being the source of all things and independent of all things, Unchanging and unchangeably God throughout all eternity.

3. THE SALVATION IN THE "I AM" SAYINGS

Knowing God personally is the only way we sinners can be saved. Jesus said, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

In nine places in the Old Testament, the Lord "filled out" or "completed" the name I AM to reveal more fully His divine nature and His gracious ministry to His people:

• Yahweh-Jireh: The LORD will provide or see to it (Gen. 22:14) 

• Yahweh-Rophe: The LORD who heals (Ex. 15:26)

• Yahweh-Nissi: The LORD our banner (Ex. 17:15)

• Yahweh-M'Kaddesh: The LORD who sanctifies (Lev. 20:8)

• Yahweh-Shalom: The LORD our peace (Judg. 6:24)

• Yahweh-Rohi: The LORD my shepherd (Ps. 23:1)

• Yahweh-Sabaoth: The LORD of hosts (Ps. 46:7)

• Yahweh-Tsidkenu: The LORD our righteousness (Jer. 23:6)

• Yahweh-Shammah: The LORD is there (Ezek. 48:35)

Of course, all of these names refer to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Because He is Yahweh-Jireh, He can supply all our needs and we need not worry (Matt. 6:25–34; Phil. 4:19). As Yahweh-Rophe, He is able to heal us; and as Yahweh-Nissi, He will help us fight our battles and defeat our enemies. We belong to Yahweh-M'Kaddesh because He has set us apart for Himself (1 Cor. 6:11); and Yahweh-Shalom gives us peace in the midst of the storms of life (Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4:9). All the promises of God find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20).

Yahweh-Rohi takes us to Psalm 23 and John 10, encouraging us to follow the Shepherd. The armies of heaven and earth are under the command of Yahweh-Sabaoth, and we need not panic (Josh. 5:13–15; Rev. 19:11–21). Because we have trusted Yahweh-Tsidkenu, we have His very righteousness put to our account (2 Cor. 5:21), and our sins and iniquities are remembered no more (Heb. 10:17). Jesus is Yahweh-Shammah, "God with us" (Matt. 1:23), and He will be with us always, even to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:20). "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" is still His guarantee (Heb. 13:5).

John Bunyan speaks of how when speaking of God's greatness of love to us His people, He speaks "ambiguous, and to wonderment; ambiguous, because unexplained, and to wonderment, because they carry in them an unexpressible something; and that something that which far out-goes all those things that can be found in this world." "The strength and glory of the truths that he was endeavouring to fasten upon the people to whom he wrote, took him away into their glory, beyond what could to the full be uttered. Besides, many times things are thus expressed, on purpose to command attention, a stop and pause in the mind about them; and to divert, by their greatness, the heart from the world, unto which they naturally are so inclined. Also, truths are often delivered to us, like wheat in full ears, to the end we should rub them out before we eat them, and take pains about them, before we have the comfort of them.  [Sometimes] Most properly to shew us the infinite and unsearchable greatness of God, (Job 11:7,8,9, Rom 11:33)."  "His greatness is unsearchable; His judgments are unsearchable (Job 5:9): He is infinite in wisdom. "O! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Rom 11:33) "If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong" (Job 9:19); yea, "the thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14) "There is none holy as the Lord" (1 Sam 2:2): "and his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him" (Psa 103:17). The greatness of God, of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that, if rightly considered, which will support the spirits of those of his people that are frighted with the greatness of their adversaries. For here is a greatness against a greatness. Pharaoh was great, but God more great, more great in power, more great in wisdom, more great every way for the help of his people; wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them. These words therefore take in for this people, the great God who in his immensity and infinite greatness is beyond all beings."

Exodus 33:12 Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.'13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people."

14 And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."  SERENITY

15 Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."

17 So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."  STABILITY

18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." SUFFICIENCY

19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."20 But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live."21 And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."

 

 

4. THE ULTIMATUM IN THE "I AM" SAYINGS

Boice: "Who is Jesus Christ to you? This is the question of questions in John's Gospel. Indeed, as we have seen, the Gospel was written almost entirely to provide an answer to it. The Gospel begins with a full statement of Christ's divinity—"In the beginning was the Word [that is, Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (1:1). It ends with the statement, "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (20:30-31)."

With this background on the name Yahweh, we now can see clearly that when Jesus used the term "I Am" both He and the Jews of the day knew exactly what He was claiming.  He was claiming to be Yahweh. He was claiming to be Jehovah. He was claiming to be LORD.  John 8 confronts us with this reality!

What is the central issue in John's Gospel? The issue is "Is Jesus God?"   If He is God, then he has a right to our allegiance and loyalty. We must follow him. You cannot honestly be indifferent to Jesus Christ. He did not leave you that option. Thus, you must either follow Him as your God and Lord, or you must seek to eradicate His presence from your life, as the religious leaders of His day attempted to do.

"I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am" (vv. 57-58). This so infuriated them that they immediately took up stones to stone him.

Stoning was the penalty for blasphemy, for making oneself out to be God. So this is what they understood him to be doing. But how does one get that from these words? And in what sense was he saying it? It is obvious from the saying itself that Jesus was claiming to have existed before Abraham was born. It also is obvious from the tense of the verb—"Before Abraham was born, I am"—that he was claiming an eternal preexistence. But this alone, we might think, would not be sufficient cause for stoning. The real reason for their violent reaction is found in the fact that when Jesus said, "I am," he actually was using the divine name by which God had revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses had asked, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you'" (Exod. 3:13-14). In Hebrew this is the word "Jehovah," and it is this word that Jesus so easily takes to himself in this saying. He claimed to be Jehovah, using the very word "Jehovah." So it was because of this that the Jews, who immediately recognized his claim for what it was, reached out to kill him. History has not eradicated Christ's claim to be God. Time has not changed it. The Jesus who made the claim then is the same Jesus who is our living contemporary, and the Scriptures tell us that he is the same "yesterday and today and forever." He calls on you to follow him. Will you do it, forsaking all else? If he is not God, then you can safely ignore him. But if he is God, then anything less than a total surrender to him is folly and any other loyalty is idolatrous.

What if God said to you.. I will bless you with prosperity anything you want… but you will not see my face.  You will not have fellowship with Me!"  Would you take that deal?

Which will it be? This is the great question of John. It is the great question raised by Christianity. It is a question for you. Will it be Christ, God in the flesh? Or will you be your own "God"? It must be Christ if he is who he declared himself to be.