Who is Jesus? Understanding the Power of "The Great I AM"

The Divine Identity: Jesus as God Incarnate

We are continuing our meditation on Jesus the Messiah's words about His identity—God incarnate visiting us as a man. Let’s look at what He stated about Himself: When challenged by the high priest and elders, Jesus declared:

⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." ⁵⁷"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" ⁵⁸"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"  ⁵⁹At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds (John 8:56-59).

The Meaning of 'Ego Eimi': Why the Greek Matters

Jesus did not say, "Before Abraham was born, I was," or "Before Abraham was, I already existed." Instead, He deliberately used the exact name of God spoken to Moses, translated into Greek as EGO AMI, which is how God revealed Himself to the Israelites—the Great I AM. Observe their reaction: they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy because He claimed to be God. This self-disclosure by Jesus is similar to a statement made by Christ just a few verses earlier, where He said: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am (the one I claim to be), you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24).

Why Jesus Claimed to Be the Only Way to Salvation

In most translations, "the one I claim to be" appears in parentheses. Why do the editors put those words in parentheses? Because they are not in the original text! They were added to help us understand the text better. This addition shifts the emphasis of the passage entirely. Jesus clearly states that redemption comes only when we gain an accurate understanding of who He is—the Divine Son of God, the great I AM. His meaning is unmistakable. Eternal life depends on understanding who the Messiah is and what He did for us on the cross. If He is just a man, His death would have accomplished nothing for us. But the truth is that God came to us as the great deliverer from slavery to sin, and only God Himself could do this. That’s why His Name is Jesus, which means YHWH saves. The greatest truth we must start with is that Christ is the great "I AM," the way, the truth, and the life. He isn't a way; He is the way! The Truth and The Life!

What Does the Name "I AM THAT I AM" Mean? (Exodus 3:14)

I Am that I Am (Hebrew: אהיה אשר אהיה‎), pronounced Ehyeh asher ehyeh, is a common English translation (King James Bible and others) of the response God used when Moses asked Him for His name (Exodus 3:14). It is one of the most well-known verses in the Old Testament. Hayah means "existed" or "was" in Hebrew; "ehyeh" is the first-person singular imperfect form. Ehyeh asher ehyeh is often interpreted to mean I am that I am, although it literally translates as "I-shall-be that I-shall-be." Jesus is the pre-existent One, the God of all creation, the divine I AM, the self-existent One who can meet every need.

How to Apply the "I AM" to Your Life Today

Understanding that Jesus is the "Self-Existent One" isn't just a theology lesson; it’s a life raft. Because He is the I AM, He is not limited by your "I am nots."

·       When you say, "I am not strong enough," He says, "I AM your strength."

·       When you say, "I am not sure of the future," He says, "I AM the Way."

·       When you feel empty, remember that Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh means He will be whoever you need Him to be in your moment of crisis.

Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is much more to explore about the life of Jesus in the series, I Am New To This. Here’s the link to the study: Who Is Jesus?

YouTube video lessons available at: https://www.youtube.com/@keiththomas7/videos