THE GREAT I AM WHO BECAME THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

TEXT JOHN CHAPTER 8 VERSE 58:  JESUS SAID TO THEM “MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM”

This wonderful term “I am that I am” is used at times in the Bible and speaks of the greatness and majesty of the living God.  What does this name mean and what does the word of God have to say about this title or name that is used at times in Gods Holy Word.  In going back to the Old Testament usage of the term we find that the great prophet Moses in the beginning of his ministry hears the voice of the living God speak to him out of the burning bush and tells Moses to say unto the children of Israel that “I am hath sent you to deliver Israel from the bondage of Egypt.”  The one who speaks to Moses is also called the angel of the Lord and is found in Exodus 3 verse 14 and God said unto Moses “I am who I am” and He said “Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.” In all the annals of history you will never find this name used in any of the writings of the great men that have lived and died.  Only as you study the life of the Lord Jesus Christ do you find this name used. It has been said that there are over 400 names of God in the Bible and each of them has significant meaning and speaks of the greatness of our God.  Human understanding of the nature and attributes of the living God are limited as we have limited capacity to understand the majesty and unlimited power of the living God. God has no limitations as to His mighty power and He is able to do what ever He thinks or chooses to do. In the book of Isaiah the Lord speaks of His unlimited power to do as He pleases and none can stay His hand or stop Him from what He chooses to do. In Isaiah we have these words from the God of Israel; “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy one. (Isaiah 40 verse 25)  As you study the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus the term ‘I am’ is used many times: I am the good shepherd, I am the truth, I am the resurrection and the life.  All these terms used by the Lord Jesus is telling us that He the Lord Jesus is equal to the Father and is able to do the same works as His father and that is to forgive sin and to raise the dead. How well the Lord Jesus could say to the Jewish leaders of his day ‘if you believe not that I am He then believe the works that I do and they will testify that of Me.’ What the Lord was saying that His mighty miracles which He did before the nation of Israel give proof that He is the living God. When the Lord Jesus is before His enemies He uttered these words, “Then He will judge the nations and every individual that will stand before Him.”  I leave you with these words from the gospel of John 5 verses 22-23, “for the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”