Discover the Person of Jesus in the Gospel of JohnSample

Scripture

“‘Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, “He is our God.” But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.’ So the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am [emphasis added].’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” John 8:53–59

Today’s Thought

Narcissism. I hate it; I love it; most of the time, I am it! If there were one word to describe the spirit of the age we live in, it would be this word, narcissism. Narcissism is incessant thinking about oneself, focusing on oneself, or turning attention to oneself. It is self-absorption to the max. We are a narcissistic people. I don’t know how we got here, but we did.

As we enter these few devotions about Jesus and His Kingdom, we find the absolutely un-narcissistic One pointing to Himself through seven great “I am” statements. He alone has the right to point to Himself, talk about Himself, and declare who He is, and He begins this with one simple statement, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus said this in such a crazy way. Speaking of a guy that seemed to live 2,000 years before Him, Jesus said that He already was and is long before Abraham. Why didn’t He say, “I was”? Why “I am”?

His statement, “I am,” caused a firestorm of anger as all those standing around Him arguing with Him in the Temple picked up stones to kill Him. Heresy! This Son of Man character was a heretic, for, in this simple phrase, He was declaring that He was divine. In fact, “I am” is the very name of God Himself. Jesus was declaring, “I AM GOD,” and for that blasphemous declaration, He must die.

Jesus is the great I Am. He is the uncreated, eternal divine One wrapped in skin. He is, He is, He is. Have you seen Him and met Him as the I Am? In this ultimate age of narcissism, where we are fixated on our appearance, on our own happiness, on monopolizing conversations, on praise, praise, and more praise, we hear the absolute selfless One declare, “I am!” In saying this, the Son of God pointed to Himself, not for self-centered gain, but to fix our eyes upon Him, for in seeing Him, the flesh-encased I Am, we live!

We must respond to His I am-ness. Our response must be the response of latching hold of Him by faith, declaring, “You are.” But, we must go further in our faith responses to these seven grand declarations of the Son of Man. We must find the faith to say from deep within, “You are my ___________.” It’s the only response possible or appropriate, a response of faith.

Think It Over

• Why did Jesus say “I am” instead of “I was” in this dialog?
• What was He saying to us in this statement?
• How could seeing Him and knowing Him as the I Am affect your life today?

Let’s Pray

Oh, Father, open our eyes to Jesus, the I Am. We must see Him. We must hear Him. He is life. Father, His humanity encased and wrapped Your uncreated glory and life within a flesh and blood body. Help us to see. Help us to gaze. Reveal in Your Son Yourself, the great I Am, and in seeing Him afresh, may we see You. In Jesus’s name, amen.