Sunday Service: 06/02/2022
Supporting Scripture: John 8:56-58
Title of Message: The 7 “I AM” statements of Christ
Delivered by: Brother Kwesi
Did Jesus ever claim to be God in his ministry of the earth?
Many Atheists, other religious groups claim that Jesus never said he was God but this is indeed not true – what’s sad is that many so called Christians cannot reply or react accordingly when these claims are made.
The most popular statements Christ made which prove that he was an equal part of the Godhead are the following:
John 8:56-58
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 10:30-33
30 I and my Father are one.31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
So Jesus being the Son of God says that he and God are one, which makes sense because we believe and know of the Trinity, the Godhead. The Jews knew and understood exactly who Jesus said he was, but they denied and rejected the Son of God, the one who came to redeem us all back to the father – this is why they are rejected as the children of God and have the Ambassadorship stripped from them (Matthew 21:43).
We also know that Jesus is the one who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush:
Exodus 3:13-14
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
We also should know that Jesus was the one in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2).
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the only way to heaven – there is no other way to get there, there is no other true way of success. Jesus is the Truth being the word (John 17:17), he spoke the truth always and he, being God is perfect and right in everything he does and say. Jesus is also the Resurrection and the life, through Christ we receive eternal life and by his name only we are saved (please read John 11:25).
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
The spirit of Christ is what gives us our ability, this is where our Zeal and strength comes from, again Jesus is proving that he is God because his power is where we get it all from, without him we are useless.
John 10:11-14
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Jesus is the true protector, the true carer – a shepherd is also known as a pastor (or a priest) and we understand that Christ is the high priest after the order of Melchizedek. This verse also shows again that he is God as we see the Psalmist King David confirm under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and in the spirit (read Psalm 23).
John 10:9-11
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Jesus is explaining that he is the way to get in, but not only to get in but to be protected. He is the gate keeper, he is our security – in order for you to get through this door, he must allow it but not only that, you can come out of the door and still be safe and he will lead you to pastures of new – this is a symbol Christ uses linking back to the Old Testament with Noah and the ark. Notice something? The ark, as big as it was only had one door; One door both for entering and exiting. When Noah and his family and animals had gone through the door, the bible states the God shut them in, (Genesis 7:15-16) keeping them safe however he also allows them out to a new life and new pastures.
John 6:48-51
48 I am that bread of life.49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Jesus is explaining who he is; That he is the sustainer of life – that for us to have everlasting life with him, we need to eat the bread of life which is his flesh. There is no sinister cannibalistic meaning here. It is simply metaphoric and means that keeping his teaching and remembering his great sacrifice (he giving himself up to death so we may live) will open the doors to his promise. Also, in the sense that being followers of Christ, we should live like him and give ourselves up for others (John 15:13) – also the main interpretation is the fact that Jesus Christ, being the word of God is something to feed and replenish ourselves with daily, renewing our minds (please read Matthew 6:11 and Matthew 4:4).
Bonus
Jesus is the starter and finisher of our faith, he is the beginning and the end – he created all things and for his pleasure they were made. This is the proof which seals that Jesus Christ is God. Alpha and Omega are the 1st and last letters in the Greek alphabet meaning he is the start and the end and what a great thing to know that our Lord knows the beginning from the end ad he is actually at the end waiting on us.
Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.