THE GREAT "I AM"

In my own relationship with God, it seems that He always answers my life’s most desperate questions - at first - as though they were “Who…?” questions.

If my hearts cry is, “What are we going to do?”  

His response seems to be “I AM!”

If I ask, “How am I going to make ends meet?”  

He seems to reply, “I AM!”

“Where can I go for an answer to our dilemma?”  

I feel He is saying, “I AM!”

“Why is this happening?”  

I think He says, “I AM!  So trust Me.”

By initially responding with “I AM!” to our requests, I think that God points us to Himself which may be His way of saying, “Trust Me and let Me guide you to each of the answers for your important questions – in My timing - because what you really need is a real and living relationship with Myself.  So don’t run off and become independent with any knowledge, revelation or provision that you receive from Me.” 

Maybe it's just me (Not!) but my desire to be self sufficient often clouds my pursuit of knowing God for Who He really is; which - if we will truly realize it - is our life's greatest opportunity.

Look below at a list of human needs and the I AM statements made by Jesus Christ that apply to them.

Are you lost?  Jesus said, “I am the Way.”

Are you confused?  Jesus said, “I am the Truth.”

Are you dying?  Jesus said, “I am the Life.”

Are you dead?  Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection.”

Are you lacking fruitfulness?  Jesus said, “I am the True Vine.”

Are you feeling helpless?  Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd.”

Are you trapped?  Jesus said, “I am the Door.”

Are you condemned?  Jesus said, “I am the Righteous Judge.”

Are you in need of true rest?  
Jesus said, “I am Lord of the Sabbath.”

Are you in need of saving?  
Jesus said, “I am the Savior of the World.”
Are you struggling with priorities?  
Jesus said, "I am the First & the Last."

Are you fearful and paralyzed with life’s storms?  

Jesus Christ says, “I AM!  Do not be afraid.”

JOHN 6:20

But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."

Literally Jesus said, “I am” and given the context of walking on water, 
I think that He actually said and meant to say, “I am”.

Two other Bible Translations say it like this.

(LITV)  But He said to them, "I AM! Do not fear."

(MKJV)  But He said to them, "I AM! Do not be afraid."

I AM is one of God’s many names, first clearly revealed 

to Moses with an audible voice at his Burning Bush experience.

Exodus 3:13-15

Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel

and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they

say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"

14)  And God said to Moses, "I AM* WHO I AM*." And He said,

"Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM* has sent me to you.' "

15)  Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children

of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.

This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'

*haw-yaw' ; to exist, i. e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic).  Related to haw-vaw', haw-vaw ’; to breathe; to be (existence).

I believe that this name I AM was implied to Abraham.

GENESIS 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,

"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

This name seems to be implied in other Old Testament verses.

ISAIAH 41:4

Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? 

'I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last I am He.' "

ISAIAH 43:11-13,15-16

“I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior.

I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no

foreign god among you; therefore you are My witnesses,"

says the LORD, "that I am God.

13)  Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one

who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"

15)  “I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King."

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea

and a path through the mighty waters,…”

This revelation is echoed by Jesus in John's Gospel.

JOHN 8:58

…., "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I** AM***."

** ἐγώ - eg-o' - pronoun of the first person, “I” (used only when emphatic).

***εἰμί - i-mee' - first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary verb; exist (used only when emphatic).

As His arrest, Jesus makes the same claim with interesting results.

JOHN 18:4-8a

Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him,

went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

5)  They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them,  

"I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.

6)  Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell

to the ground.  Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"

And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

8)  Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He………”

NOTE:  In the above passage, the word "He" was italicized because it is not in the original manuscripts.  At their question, Jesus answered them literally with "I am."  Upon hearing Him, for some reason the arresting party all  fell to the ground.  Perhaps this pointed to His greatness, which although it did not prevent His arrest and eventual death but later was demonstrated by His resurrection.

In conclusion, I hope these thoughts encourage you to consider and see God's eternal existence as the Great I AM as our foundation for hope building faith.

Somebody stop me!

Here's some more to think about.

Are you wrestling with your priorities?  Jesus said, “I am the First.”

Are you concerned about how things are going to work out? 

Jesus said, “I am the Last.”

According to ISAIAH 61;

Are you poor?  

Jesus said, “I am anointed by the Spirit of the Lord to preach Good News.

Are you brokenhearted?

Jesus said, “I am sent to bring healing.”

Are you captive and in bondage?

He says, “I am anointed and sent to open your prison.”

Are you in mourning?

The Lord prophesies, “I am sent to bring comfort and consolation

                       to all who mourn and to give them the oil of joy.”

Are you heavy hearted?

He promised, “I am anointed and sent to give you the garment of praise.”

Are you negative? Critical?  Whining? Complaining? Unthankful?

He promised, “I am anointed and sent to give you the garment of praise.”

Lord,

What can I do about all these hurts?

     I AM!

Where can I go with my jealousy?

     I AM!

How can I overcome this envy?

     I AM!

When will I become mature?

     I AM!

Why can’t I truly be free?

     I AM!

Will I ever be blessed?

JOHN 10:10b                                                                              

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

                                                                         KJV