THE "I AM" FACTOR


 


THE “I AM” FACTOR

 

 

I awakened one morning awhile back wondering about an event described in Jn18 in the Garden of Gethsemane.   

Soldiers and religious dignitaries had come with Judas to arrest Jesus.

Upon seeing them, Jesus asked, “whom do you seek?”

…to which they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said, “I AM”

At which point they ALL fell over backward!

 

 

Why?

 

 

Immediately I was reminded of the encounter Moses had with God in Ex3:13-14.  

Moses asked, “When I come to the children of Israel and say, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"

And God replied,

“I AM THAT I AM”

 

This is a common English translation of the Hebrew phrase אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה‎‎ (YHWH 'ăšer YHWH)– also "I am who (I) am", "I will become what I choose to become", "I am what I am", "I will be what I will be", "I create what(ever) I create", or "I am the Existing One"

…meaning: “My nature will become evident from my actions”

 

 

 

Ex3:14 continues: "Say this to the children of Israel,

'I AM (YHWH) has sent me to you.'"

 

 

The Greek version of the Old Testament, widely used in Jesus' day, rendered “YHWH” as “ego eime”… “I AM”

 

 

So, when Jesus Christ responded in Jn18:4, “I AM” (ego eime), He was stating and identifying the name YHWH as His own.

 

At least eight other times He makes this same identifying statement:

Jn6:35 “I AM the bread of life”

Jn8:12 “I AM the light of the world”

Jn8:58 "Before Abraham was, I AM."

Jn10:7,9 “I AM the door”

Jn10:11,14 “I AM the good shepherd”

Jn11:25 “I AM the resurrection and the life”

Jn14:6 “I AM the way, the truth and the life”

Jn15:1,5 “I AM the vine”

 

 

Phil2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.

 

 

I AM made in the image of my Father… identifying with HIM… to make a statement like, “I AM stupid”, “I AM sick”, or “I AM…whatever” is a reflection of who I really believe HE IS in me.

 

 

I AM born of the SPIRIT....

            I AM a son of YHWH…

                        I AM has sent me.

 

 

NO WONDER THEY FELL OVER BACKWARD!

 

Who can stand in the presence of THE

 

I AM?


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