Who Christ Is
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:58
Consider how often we use the phrase, “I am,” in conversation. It is interesting to note that God used the phrase “I AM” in answering a question from Moses who wanted to know how to identify God to the Hebrew slaves. God’s answer was, “I AM WHO I AM.” Moses was to tell them, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).
I AM is full of theological significance when applied to God. And Jesus used that significance to identify Himself to the Jews as being one with God: “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). So holy were these words to the Jews that they tried unsuccessfully to stone Him (John 8:59). Jesus went on to expand on the meaning of I AM by using the phrase seven times to describe aspects of His being: I am the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the True Vine.
Meditating on each of these aspects of God’s Person in Christ reveals untold riches about who He is and what He does.
God is not the great I WAS, He is the great I AM.
Eric Alexander
Turning Point Ministries
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:58
Consider how often we use the phrase, “I am,” in conversation. It is interesting to note that God used the phrase “I AM” in answering a question from Moses who wanted to know how to identify God to the Hebrew slaves. God’s answer was, “I AM WHO I AM.” Moses was to tell them, “I AM has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).
I AM is full of theological significance when applied to God. And Jesus used that significance to identify Himself to the Jews as being one with God: “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). So holy were these words to the Jews that they tried unsuccessfully to stone Him (John 8:59). Jesus went on to expand on the meaning of I AM by using the phrase seven times to describe aspects of His being: I am the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the True Vine.
Meditating on each of these aspects of God’s Person in Christ reveals untold riches about who He is and what He does.
God is not the great I WAS, He is the great I AM.
Eric Alexander
Turning Point Ministries
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