When Jesus Is "i Am" Series

OPEN:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K80pozOfrU&fbclid=IwAR0T8oXzHhv4JoeIWzW6HuZ4lpgU4FNNRs3uyRJEGmyb2JW_7h9f0LDRCYE (thru time-stamp 2:27 “indescribable”)

(The script of the video is from the sermon “That's My King” by S.M. Lockridge, which says “The Bible says my King, He's the King of the Jews; He's the King of Israel; He's the King of Righteousness. He's the King of the Ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of Glory. He's the King of Kings, and He's the Lord of Lords. Now that’s my King! Do you know Him? No means of measure can define His limitless love. Well, well, He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. Do you know Him? He's God's Son. He's a sinner's Savior. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands in the solitude of Himself. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology. Do you know Him? He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He heals the sick. He cleansed lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him? He's the key to knowledge. He's the wellspring to wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. Do you know Him? His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I wish I could describe Him for you – but He’s indescribable.”)

Someone once said that there were 256 names in the Bible for Jesus (Billy Sunday) and you’ve just heard a few of them in that video just now. But the one name that got Jesus in the most trouble was this one (PAUSE) “I AM!”

Just a few verses later in John 8 (after the text we read this morning) we read that “Jesus said… ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they up took stones to stone him…” John 8:58-59

Now, obviously Jesus said something that ticked them off! But what did He say that upset them? I mean all He said was “Before Abraham was, I AM.” What’s the big deal?

Well, the big deal was that - centuries before, Moses had met God at the burning bush. And God told Moses that he’d been chosen to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh – “let my people go.” But 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?” Exodus 3:13

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM… Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’" Exodus 3:14

You see what God was telling Moses was - that’s my name! My name is “I AM!” So, when Jesus told the crowd “Before Abraham was, I AM” He was claiming God’s name (I AM). He was saying I AM… GOD! and all the Jews knew it! Now, if Jesus hadn’t been God, His claim would have been blasphemy. It would have been sin and He would have deserved to be stoned to death. But of course, Jesus was God - so it wasn’t blasphemy. Jesus had come to be God in the flesh.

That’s why – when the angel told Joseph that Mary was to have a child, the angel said “‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son (Jesus) and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:23

You see, Jesus was God in the flesh. He was the great “I AM.” But, what does that mean – that Jesus is the I AM? Well, a number of times throughout His ministry, Jesus said He was the “I AM.” The term Jesus used here in John 8 was the Greek phrase “EGO EIMI.” EGO means “I” and EIMI means “I AM.” So Jesus was literally saying “I am the I AM” (kind of redundant). Or, I am God!!!

And Jesus used that phrase several times. For example, every time Jesus said things like “I am the way, the truth and the life”; or “I am the resurrection and the life”; or “I am the Good Shepherd” - the FIRST two words out of His mouth were “I – I AM.” “I – I AM the Way, The Truth And The Life;” “I – I AM the Resurrection And The Life;” “I – I AM the Good Shepherd” (and so on). And every time He said that He was saying “I AM…God in the flesh.” And (He was saying) these are the things I’ve come to be (as God) in your lives: I have come to be your way and truth and life; I have come to your resurrection; I have come to be your Good shepherd. And I can do all of that… because I AM GOD!!!