Jesus The Great I Am

1
Jesus The Great I Am?

• Establishing Jesus claim to deity

2
Introduction

• In previous lessons weve seen
• How the apostle Jn. began his entire message of
  Good News declaring from the beginning who Jesus
  was The Word, who was with God, and who was God.
• We also saw how the Daniels prophecy of the
  Messiah strongly implied Jesus deity when He
  came with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient
  of Days.
• Thus, we move further into the life of Jesus
  Himself and note his claims of Deity.

3
Introduction

• From this lesson (for the remainder of this year)
  we start by looking at the I AMs of Jesus.
• I am the bread of life. Jn. 637
• I am the light of the world. Jn. 812
• I am the door. Jn. 109
• I am the good shepherd. Jn. 1011
• I am the resurrection and the life. Jn. 1125
• I am the true vine. Jn. 151

4
Background Behind The Great I AM

• The Phrase I Am.
• It is derived from the Hebrew verb (hãyãh) to
  be and with the accepted translations
• He who causes to be.
• I am the One who is/will be (most accepted
  etymological source).
• This verb was used for the name of YHWH the
  tetragrammaton for our Yahweh.
• Because the Jews regarded Gods name so sacred,
  the Septuagint version of the O.T. replaced the
  Hebrew tetragrammaton name with the title Lord
  out of due respect.

5
Background Behind The Great I AM

• Meaning behind the phrase I Am.
• God is self-existent (not created). Isa. 4310-13
• God is continuously involved in the lives of
  menthrough all generations. Ex. 315-17
• NOTE remember this phrase for later in this
  lesson I am the God of Abraham Exo. 315

6
Background Behind The Great I AM

• Gods name would be remembered and worshipped
  forever.
• Man began calling on the name of Yahweh (Gen.
  426, 134), but He was not revealed as Yahweh.
  Ex. 62
• To Moses, and from this time onward man, He would
  make His name known to Israel (thus, to all man).
  Psa. 684 8318 (Isa. 526 Jer. 1621 Eze.
  376, 13)

7
Overview of Jesus I Am Claims

• With the Jews understanding of I Am regarding
  Jehovah it would be clear to them what Jesus was
  saying if their hearts were open to accept it.
  Jn. 146
• Jesus said I am the way.
• He illustrated this by stating that He was the
  door and the good shepherd. Jn. 109-10
• The Jews were explicitly lead to accept or reject
  Jesus as the way to the Father in heaven.

8
Overview of Jesus I Am Claims

• Jesus said I am the truth.
• Jews understood that only God was the light of
  their lives. Psa. 1828 271
• When Jesus claimed to be the light of the world,
  whether accepting or rejecting Him, they would
  understand His claim that could only be
  paralleled to God. Jn. 1812
• The apostle John understood Jesus claim and
  begins his gospel to proclaim Jesus deity. Jn.
  114

9
Overview of Jesus I Am Claims

• Jesus said I am the life
• Jesus claimed to be the true bread from heaven
  that gives life (Jn. 635) and those believing in
  Him would never thirst (cp. Jn. 414).
• Jews who believed in the resurrection knew
  that only God could give life. Cp. Exo. 314-15
• Jesus, knowing this, said that He was the
  resurrection and the life. Jn. 1125

10
Overview of Jesus I Am Claims

• Thus, when Jesus said I am the way, the truth,
  and the life
• He was saying He is everything to those who
  believed in Him as their Savior and salvation.
• Thus, this phrase was but a culmination for all
  who Jesus claimed to be deity!
• Those blind to the truth regarded His teachings
  as blasphemy because they (truly) understood what
  He was claiming.

11
Conclusion

• This overview provides a glimpse into Jesus
  claims to deity.
• The question is do you accept Jesus as the
  Christ, the risen Son of God, who is the Savior
  of the world?