The Great I Am

 God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58)

Jesus Christ is eternal; He has always existed. His words in John 8:58 demonstrate this clearly as He identifies Himself as the great I AM of the Old Testament. 

Jesus’ claim in John 8 is also one of divinity. When God revealed Himself as I AM, He declared His eternality, His ever-present character, and His saving nature. The I AM who spoke to Moses is the God who delivers His people. In John 8:58, Jesus claims these same attributes. 

Jesus is God. 

 What comfort there is in knowing that Christ is the eternal, ever-present Savior!  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). 

Not only has He always existed, but He alone is the Creator of all things.  

 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17; cf. John 1:2)

If He is the eternal One and the One who created all things, then He must be eternally present and omnipresent. This truth must bring great joy to the believer, knowing that Christ Himself, who is God, has always, is always, and will be always with His people. 

 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20; cf. Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5)

Since Jesus is all these things, He must be the ultimate Deliverer and Savior of His people. 

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him... (Hebrews 7:25) 

Jesus reveals His character in a series of “I AM” statements throughout the gospel of John. He alone is 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. He alone is God.