ADVENT SEASON
(THE ANTICIPATION OF CHRIST’S BIRTH IN THE SEASON LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS)
28 NAMES OF JESUS
DECEMBER 1, 2020
Name #2: “I Am”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
John 8 includes the only “I am” statement in the entire gospel. This impromptu courtroom experience found in the chapter finds the “I am of the world” in a spirited debate with the “I am” of the Son. “The ‘I am’ of the Son claimed nothing for himself or by himself. The ‘I am’ of the world was founded upon itself, but the ‘I am’ of the Son was founded upon the Father (8:16).”1 In these moments, Jesus points to the effect of sin that leads to the darkness of the world and spiritual blindness. Paul articulated their state very well when he wrote to the Corinthian church, “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
It is amazing that, in those moments, Jesus the “I am” was right there in front of his aggressors because of their resistance to the light that is found only in Him. It is easy to sit in judgment of these antagonists, but they were being drawn back to the familiar instead of embracing the supernatural. They were choosing to defend the way they knew, instead of grasping the truth found in Christ. Their choice would lead to their eternal demise, but it was all they knew, and they were not willing to change, because in their minds, their way of life and heritage would be eternally altered. Who wants that? Add in the influence of corrupt spiritual leaders and you have quite a moment of chaos and conflict. However, what Jesus offered was a relationship that would change not only their lives on Planet Earth, but it would lead to a relationship with the “I am” for eternity.
In John 8:58, Jesus is speaking to the heritage of the Jews who are in a dispute with him and says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). In this statement, Jesus proclaims his identity as the one promised to Abraham who they had been waiting for as a people. He is the promised redeemer. He meets the qualifications of Messiah and the Son of promise. He is the “I Am!” The next verse tells us that these were fighting words. What Jesus was claiming, in the people’s minds and hearts, was blasphemy! His deserved punishment was stoning! His adversaries started picking up the rocks preparing for His demise. At that moment, Jesus was hidden from them and left the temple. What a scene!
In Jesus’ claim to be the “I Am,” He was “referring to His active life-giving existence.” 2 As we progress through this Advent season, we should be hyper-aware of this role of the “I Am” in our lives. He gives light in the darkness, hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak — this list could go on forever. My prayer for this season is that we all lean into the truth of God’s desire to have a relationship with us in every area of our life. Our goal should be to surrender to the “I Am” and enjoy the abundant life He has promised. As we enjoy his presence, we should not forget to invite others to sit in awe of the great “I Am” with us.
Last weekend, as I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I was caught by how many times they focused the cameras on the front of the store, and the words “Merry Christmas” were there for everyone to see. Then Macy’s one-word ad campaign would appear: Believe! It was like a road sign for anyone seeking to know the peace found only in Christ. Our belief in the “I Am” should lead us to a life filled with hope, love, joy, and peace. These things are only found in Jesus, the great “I Am.” So, don’t be shy about sharing the message of the “I Am” this season!
Pastor Chuck
(1) Edward Klink, Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament, Vol. 4, 425
(2) Roy Zuck and Charles Swindoll, Understanding Christian Theology, 155.