The Great I AmExemplo

It’s one thing to be insulted by someone who doesn’t know you. Maybe you can identify. If it’s someone on social media or a casual acquaintance, that’s one level of pain. But when the very people you sustain, either through care-giving, provision or more insult you, it’s difficult for most of us to contain the feelings of outright pain. 

No doubt Jesus’s words came peppered with an extra bit of spice when He rebuked His accusers that day. It’s little wonder that He didn’t just raise His hand and, with that, let them all fall instantly to the ground. How dare they even insinuate that the One who gives them the ability to speak at all is less than they are, in fact as lowly and unrighteous as a demon? 

But Jesus exercised power in His self-control. I would have loved to have seen the look in His eyes and hear the lengthened breath that He took when He replied, “I don’t have a demon” (John 8:49). Perhaps He looked down at that point. Perhaps He looked up. Perhaps He stared right into the soul of His accuser. Whatever the case, I imagine He could have pierced the core of the earth with His gaze when He continued, “I honor My Father, and You dishonor Me” (v. 49). 

Jesus continued the dialogue a bit longer. Accusations kept coming. His responses showed restraint coupled with intentionality. Until, ultimately, He left it all on the table. When the Jews around Him mocked Him by jesting, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” (John 8:57). He did not hold back. His reply revealed all. I can almost hear His voice softening, growing patient like a parent with a child who simply will not understand. “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (v. 58). 

He knew that statement would end the conversation. And in fact, it did. The Jews then picked up stones to kill Him, but He fled and hid. Why would people pick up stones to kill someone who made that statement? Because of the present tense of the word “am.” Jesus didn’t say, “Before Abraham was, I was.” No, He let them know that before Abraham was, He is. He exists in the eternal, present tense, and only One can claim that: God Himself. 

This assertion sent the Jews into the ionosphere of anger because, to them, that was nothing short of blasphemy. See, when Jesus identified with the name I Am, it took His listeners all the way back to Exodus 3. They knew exactly what He was saying because Jewish culture in that day required a detailed understanding, and in many cases, memorization of the Scriptures. Exodus 3:13-14 says, “Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me, “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”

Thus, the reason rocks flew when Jesus declared to be I Am is because in so doing, He outright declared to be God. As the designated spokesman of the Trinity (the Word of God), Jesus was stating that it was He speaking from that bush way back when to Moses.