What did Jesus mean when he said, I AM?

Beloved in Christ, there are different names and titles of Jesus in the holy scriptures, which reveals an aspect of his person and mission, but the name, "I AM" is a bit unique. The name reveals to us who Jesus really is. Let us dive deep into the scriptures to uncover why Jesus applied the divine name, ''I AM'' to himself.

In the book of John, it is recorded: Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham? "Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple (John 8; 56-59).

I see glorious truths encapsulated in this very passage before us this day. Jesus was saying to the throng and to the religious leaders that their father Abraham rejoiced at the prospect of seeing his day, and he saw it with an eye of faith and rejoiced. And they said to him, "You are not yet fifty years". Of a truth, Jesus in his human nature was below fifty years. But Jesus replied them by saying: ''Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM''. 

Jesus responded to them by saying that before their father Abraham was even conceived and brought forth as a little baby, he was already in existence as the I AM. We can see in the hypostasis of Christ his dual distinct natures, namely his human and divine nature which constitutes the uniqueness of his person. As a Man, he was not yet up to fifty, he was in his early thirties, but in relation to his divine nature, he was already in being before Abraham was born. The people understood what Jesus meant by I AM, hence their violent reaction.

"Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple". They knew Jesus was drawing a connection between himself and the God in the old testament. Jesus wanted them to fathom the fact that he was the One who revealed his name to his servant Moses in the midst of the burning bush as the, "I AM WHO I AM'', see (Exodus 3; 14-15). 

Jesus was in effect saying to them, that he is Yahweh, the self sufficient, the self existent uncreated being. He was revealing his true identity to them as the great I AM, as God manifested in human flesh. But the question is, why were the people infuriated, because Jesus applied the name, "I AM" to himself?

Because they refused to believe the words of Jesus, they saw him as just a mere man, so to them Jesus was worthy of death on account of blasphemy. For it written in their law: Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death-- Leviticus 24; 16.

But of a truth, Jesus wasn't blaspheming, he was simply communicating an important truth to them, but because they were destitute of the Spirit, they couldn't handle such spiritual matter. Rather, they sought to kill him by stoning him to death, and because his time was not yet nigh, he escaped from their hands. John 8; 58 is a major text which argues for the case of the deity of Christ. 

Foolish, ignorant and unlearned men always makes this assertion, that Jesus never made claims to be God during his incarnation, but John 8; 58 refutes their cavil. Jesus also used I AM to make metaphorical statements in order to teach his indispensable role in the salvation of his people.
 
Jesus said: I AM the way, the truth and the life (John 14; 6), I AM the true vine (John 15; 1), I AM the good Shepherd (John 10; 11), I AM the living bread from Heaven (John 6; 51), I AM the light of the world (John 8; 12), I AM the door (John 10; 9), I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11; 25).  For further study, you can read my article, ''What are the meaning of Jesus, I am statements in the book of John?'' God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Foolish, ignorant and unlearned men always makes this assertion, that Jesus never made claims to be God during his incarnation, but John 8; 58 refutes their cavil

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