“I Am”

John 8:31-59

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” (John 8:58)

JESUS USED A RANGE OF metaphors to illustrate who he is because he serves a number of roles in our lives. He is the gateway into life, but also life itself; he is the shepherd of his people, but also the embodiment of God’s people as a whole; he is the bread that comes from heaven to earth, but also the only way to get from earth to heaven. He is all that and more, and only illustrations can begin to give us a glimpse of his true nature.

But when it came time for Jesus to identify his essence, he drew from ancient Scriptures and the story of Moses. Moses had encountered God at a burning bush, where he received his calling to go back to Egypt as a deliverer of God’s people. But in his insecurity, Moses asked God for his name. After all, if you’re being sent on a divine mission, it’s important to know who’s sending you. So God gave Moses an enigmatic answer, an almost unpronounceable form of the expression “I am” that implied self-existence with no further explanation. It became known as the divine name of God.

Jesus used this name or a variation of it to identify himself before a crowd of critics. Predictably, they picked up stones to throw at him for this apparent blasphemy. Whether Jesus used the exact name is unclear, but the reaction of his opponents makes it clear that he at least referenced it. He was no mere teacher and certainly more than a metaphor. He was—and is—the embodiment of the God who created the universe.

Remember that in your life of following Jesus. You are not modeling yourself after a great teacher or embracing a philosophy. You are connecting with the source of life himself, the author of all that is. His words are nonnegotiable, though you will grow in your understanding of them. His power is uncompromising, though you will grow in your experience of it. Your testimony is not just a point of view; it is a testament to truth. You are being made in the image of wisdom, power, and love in their purest form.

{Jesus, you are infinite power, light, love, truth, and joy. Let me embody your nature and overflow with it—and receive your nature overflowing from others. May I live a supernatural life worthy of your calling. Amen.