In the Old Testament, “I AM” is the sacred name God revealed to Moses, representing His eternal, unchanging, self-existent nature.
Exodus 3:14 (KJV):
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM… say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
This name is YHWH (Yahweh) — so holy that ancient Jews would not even pronounce it.
But astonishingly, Jesus used this exact name for Himself.
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⚠️ Jesus Didn’t Just Say “I Am He” — He Said “I AM”
John 8:58 (KJV):
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.”
He didn’t say, “Before Abraham was, I was.”
He said: 👉 “I AM.”
This was a clear and direct claim to deity. The Jews immediately recognized what He meant.
John 8:59 (KJV):
“Then took they up stones to cast at him…”
Why did they try to stone Him?
Because according to the Law (Leviticus 24:16), blasphemy — claiming to be God — was punishable by death.
But Jesus wasn’t blaspheming.
He was telling the truth.
🕊️ “I AM” – Not Just a Phrase, But a Divine Identity
Jesus used the phrase “I AM” multiple times in John’s Gospel, each time revealing a unique divine attribute:
- “I AM the bread of life” (John 6:35) – He alone sustains the soul.
- “I AM the light of the world” (John 8:12) – He reveals truth in a dark world.
- “I AM the good shepherd” (John 10:11) – He leads and protects His people.
- “I AM the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) – He holds power over death.
- “I AM the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) – No one comes to the Father but through Him.
These were not metaphors — they were divine self-revelations.
🕯️ The “I AM” Was with Israel in the Wilderness
1 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV):
“…for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
Paul reveals that Jesus was the One who led and sustained Israel in the wilderness.
The Great “I AM” was not just a voice in the burning bush —
He walked the earth in the flesh of Jesus Christ.
🧠 Why It Matters: “I AM” Means Eternal and Unchangeable
Unlike all created things, God simply is.
He has no beginning, no end, no cause, no dependency.
Jesus says He is that very Being — “I AM.”
✅ Conclusion
Jesus was not just claiming to be from God.
He claimed to be God — the same I AM who sent Moses to Egypt, the same Yahweh who delivered Israel, the same eternal God who has no beginning or end.
That’s why the Jews picked up stones — they understood exactly what He was saying.
And it’s why we fall on our knees — we believe it.
✝️ Jesus is the I AM — the Eternal, Self-Existent God of the Bible.
