The Clarification - Introduction to Jesus' "I Am" Statements

The "I Am" statements of Jesus are a series of declarations made by Jesus in the Gospel of John, which underscore His divine identity and mission. Each
of these statements serves not only as a reflection of His nature but also as a way of revealing how He fulfills the spiritual needs of humanity.
God had centuries earlier revealed Himself to Moses with the decisive statement, “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Throughout the Old Testament, others added to
His name “I AM” – translated Yahweh or Jehovah or LORD – by giving Him names that clarified His character, based upon His provision and His miracles.
Scripture declares God’s names as Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord, My Provider), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord Heals), Jehovah Nissi (the Lord, My Banner), Jehovah
Shalom (the Lord, Our Peace), Jehovah Raah (the Lord, My Shepherd), and more.
Then, centuries later, Jesus used the same name (I AM) in the Gospel of John to describe Himself when He said to the Samaritan woman “I…am He” (John
4:26), when he told His frightened disciples as He walked on the surface of the waters toward their boat in a storm “It is I” (John 6:20), and when He
reaffirmed to His followers, “I am He” (John 13:19).
God further defined who He was in the Book of John through Jesus’s seven “I am” statements
Jesus wasn’t just exercising positive self-talk when He made these bold statements. He was letting the first-century Jews, familiar with God’s definition of
Himself, know that He truly was God incarnate, the Messiah they were waiting for, the Most High God in the flesh. If anyone else had made these
statements, it would have been blasphemy (That is what Jesus was accused of by the Jewish leaders, who then arranged to have Him crucified for such
“blasphemy.” Yet that plot was ultimately ordained by God to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be crucified for the sins of all who would believe in His
name).
Jesus fulfilled and affirmed numerous Old Testament prophesies about Himself through these statements. It’s also important to consider that He knew
who He was, and He wanted us to clearly know, too. He can’t be minimized to merely our “ticket to heaven” but must be seen as our daily sustenance, our
direction, our protector, our sacrificial Savior, our victory over death, our access to the Father and eternal life, and our vitality and strength.
Do you know Jesus as not just a great teacher, not just a miracle worker, not just your Savior, but as the Great I Am in the flesh who became your
sustenance, light, hope, salvation, and strength? Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Experience the
truth and freedom of knowing who Jesus really is, and its significance to you personally and to a hurting world that needs Him.