At the Table with JesusSample

Jesus Is Our Great I AM

It’s one of the most powerful moments in the entire Bible. When Moses turned aside to get a better look at something miraculous—a bush that was burning yet not consumed—he stumbled into a life-changing conversation with the Creator of the universe. During that conversation, Moses wanted to know God’s name. He wanted to know who was sending him back into the dangerous teeth of Egypt and Pharaoh.

God’s answer was both simple and profound: “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you’” (Ex. 3:14).

Sit with that for a minute. Chew on it in your mind. Moses asked God’s name, and God said, “I AM WHO I AM.”

If you ever wonder about the nature of God, I AM WHO I AM sums things up wonderfully. God exists in an eternal present. He is and He will always be as He is. He is the Rock of existence, of reality, and every other thing or idea is defined by Him and through Him.

When you can wrap your mind around that, remember that Jesus is God. Jesus exists as this same being—He is I AM WHO I AM. It’s appropriate, then, that Jesus used that phrase “I AM” to describe Himself on several occasions during His ministry on earth.

Jesus said, “I am the way.” And this is where some people get a little uncomfortable, because Jesus didn’t say “I am a way” or even “I am the best way.” He spoke singularly. Definitively. He is the way to the Father. The way to salvation. The way to eternal life.

Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the life. What’s more, the Jesus sitting there at the table of your mind is the same Jesus who has always been at work in history, even before there was a history. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Jesus has always been and will always be dependable, steady, and sure.

Around the third century after Jesus’ birth, different church councils determined that Christmas would be celebrated on December 25, just a few days after the winter solstice, a few days after the darkest night of the year. The symbolism was clear and powerful: Jesus’ birth meant that the Light had entered the world.

John placed a heavy emphasis on the imagery of light at the beginning of his gospel, and rightfully so:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . .

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world (John 1:1–5, 9).”

Matthew also emphasized that theme at the beginning of his gospel, noting that Jesus’ birth and ministry fulfilled a key prophecy from Isaiah 9:1–2: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matt. 4:16).

With all of that as background, Jesus understood exactly what He was doing when He declared, “I am the light of the world.”

This world is a place of darkness. You don’t need me to explain why that is true; you’ve seen it for yourself. But it’s not just the world. We as human beings are filled with darkness. We are corrupted by the darkness of sin, and we spread that darkness over and over through our sinful actions. Left on our own, we are creatures of darkness and will always walk in darkness. That is precisely why we need the Light.

When I read John 15, I like to picture Jesus walking with His disciples from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. I see Him passing by a grapevine, perhaps a vineyard or perhaps some wild fruit growing along the road, and stopping to observe. He motions for His disciples to gather round. They come close, hushed with the knowledge that the Teacher is about to teach.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener,” He says (v. 1). I imagine Jesus taking the grapes in His hand, maybe holding one out for the disciples to see. He speaks of how the Father prunes away any branches that don’t bear fruit, and He reminds the disciples that no branch can bear fruit by itself. In His words, “it must remain in the vine” (v. 4).

Then Jesus speaks the truth He has gathered them to hear: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”—we need the Great I AM.

Respond

Describe a time in your life when you turned to the Great I AM.

Which of Jesus’ “I AM” statements above did you lean on?

Prayer

Jesus, You are the “Great I AM.” Place someone in my path today who needs to hear about You.