When God called Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, Moses asked God an issue: Who should I say has sent me? God answered this straightforward query with a solution that established an everlasting truth. Here was God’s reply.
God said to Moses, “I’m who I’m. This is what you might be to say to the Israelites: ‘I’m has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
How can two transient words comprising just three letters possibly have a lot meaning? You can find the reply to that query whenever you understand the meaning of “I’m.”
Does “I Am” Have a Special Meaning within the Bible?
The phrase “I Am” holds a special significance within the Bible. It is linked to the divine name of God and holds significance for the 1 Exodus passage mentioned earlier.
God’s name has been commonly expressed as Yahweh or Jehovah, which originates from the Hebrew root hayah. This word means to be or to exist. It points to the everlasting and self-existent nature of God. It tells us that God’s existence isn’t contingent on external aspects. He stands because the supreme source of all existence. The designation emphasizes that God exists independently beyond time, underscoring His position as the last word and unchanging creator of all things.
What Does the Meaning of “I Am” Tell Us about God?
When you’re thinking that of “I’m,” the one thing you must remember is that God is present. He is present in time, present in history, and present within the affairs of all humanity.
Here is how Stuart Douglas wrote it in his commentary on Exodus:
“The name should thus be understood as referring to Yahweh’s being the creator and sustainer of all that exists and thus the Lord of each creation and history, all that’s and all that is occurring—a God energetic and present in historical affairs.” – Exodus, vol. 2, 121.
How Did Jesus Use “I Am” in His Ministry?
Jesus used seven I’m statements within the gospel of John to define who he was.
- In John 6:35, Jesus declares I’m the bread of life.
- In John 8:12, Jesus declares I’m the sunshine of the world.
- In John 10:7, Jesus declares I’m the gate for the sheep.
- In John 10:11, Jesus declares I’m the great shepherd.
- In John 11:25, Jesus declares I’m the resurrection and the life.
- In John 14:6, Jesus declares I’m the way in which, the reality, and the life.
- In John 15:1,5, Jesus declares I’m the true vine.
In each of those statements, Jesus identified one other aspect of who he’s in relation to those that would consider in him. He is the bread of life that satisfies our souls’ longings. As the sunshine of the world, he’s the one who guides our way. Because he’s the gate, he protects the sheep. As the great shepherd, he cares for and lays down his life for the sheep. Because he’s the resurrection and the life, he gives us the hope of everlasting life. Because he’s the way in which, the reality, and the life we all know, he’s the one way we are able to access the Father. As the true vine, he sustains us daily. Every time Jesus made an “I’m” statement, he revealed one other aspect of who he’s and defined who he’s in our relationship with him.
Perhaps essentially the most revealing “I’m” statement is his words in John 8:58.
“‘Very truly I inform you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I’m!’”
When Jesus made this statement, he was talking to a crowd of Jews. When they heard this, they immediately knew what Jesus was saying. Jesus declared his divine nature and established himself as equal to the Father. After all, “I’m” was only connected to Yahweh. In the following verse, the Jews picked up stones, attempting to kill him because, of their minds, Jesus had committed blasphemy by equating himself with God. However, Jesus didn’t misspeak. He knew exactly what he was saying. These two words reveal Jesus’ everlasting nature and his divine nature. He made it known, to his listeners then and to readers today, that he’s God in flesh. The one who was before all things began and the one who might be when all things end.
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said “I Am He” within the Garden of Gethsemane?
One of the more interesting events in Jesus’ life occurred the night they got here to arrest him.
“‘Jesus, knowing all that was going to occur to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you would like?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I’m he,’ Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I’m he,’ they drew back and fell to the bottom.’” (John 18:4-6)
To my knowledge, an event like this had never occurred before in Jesus’ ministry. The response of the lads coming to arrest Jesus signifies his words meant greater than just revealing his presence. The words Jesus spoke at that moment carried the identical authority because the ones he spoke earlier in John 8:58. It was also proof that nobody took Jesus’ life but that he willingly laid it down. If his words alone could cause armed soldiers to fall to the bottom, then at any point, Jesus could have stopped the arrest and his eventual crucifixion. However, he didn’t because, as he said, “I’m he.” He is the one who had to return and die so that you simply and I might need life.
When you place this incident in perspective, it foreshadows what is going to occur to everyone who will stand before Jesus.
“Therefore God exalted him to the very best place and gave him the name that’s above every name, that on the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and each tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9/11)
What Does the Meaning of “I Am” Teach Us Today?
When you’re thinking that of “I’m” today, inside those words, you discover Jesus is all the things you would like whenever you need him.
- If you would like comfort, he’s the God of all comfort.
- If you would like peace, he’s the prince of peace.
- If you would like salvation, he’s the lamb of God, who takes away the world’s sins.
- If you might be alone, he’s the one who will all the time be with you.
- If you might be unsteady, he’s the rock you possibly can construct your life upon.
- If you would like direction, he’s the way in which.
- If you might be deceived, he’s the reality.
- When you breathe your last breath on this earth, he’s the resurrection and the life. Because he lives, you may also live.
It doesn’t matter where you might be in life; the “I’m” with you. He has walked where you walked. He has been where you will have been. He knows exactly how you are feeling. That’s why he can also be your great high priest who can empathize along with your situation in life.
“Therefore, since now we have an important high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, allow us to hold firmly to the religion we profess. For we do not need a high priest who’s unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but now we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we’re—yet he didn’t sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to assist us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
You can feel confident today since the Great I’m is energetic and present in your life. You won’t ever be left alone since the one who began the work in you’ll complete it. In your journey with Jesus, he’s “I’m” in the beginning and might be “I’m” through the top. Whatever you would like, you can find it in him, and you possibly can approach his throne confidently since the “I’m” is there to assist you to in your time of need.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Apisit Suwannaka
This article is an element of our Names of God Series featuring essentially the most used names and titles of God present in the Bible. We have compiled these articles to assist you to study all that God says He is and to assist you to understand His nature and character. Our hope is that you simply would concentrate on these truths and find hope as you rest within the promise of God’s presence, regardless of the circumstances.
7 Meanings of Yahweh – God’s Name within the Bible
Meaning of Elohim within the Bible
What Does it Mean that Jesus Is the Lamb of God?
What Does Messiah Mean? – Biblical Usage
God Is the Alpha and Omega – Meaning & Understanding
What Is the Meaning of the Name El Shaddai?
Jehovah Jireh: “The Lord Will Provide” Name of God
What Does Yeshua Mean? Biblical Name for Jesus
Jehovah Nissi: “The Lord Is My Banner” Name of God
Son of Man – Jesus’s Favorite Name for Himself
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God’s character and God’s name remain the identical through all generations. He is fully trustworthy, all the time powerful, eternally loving, and continually present with us. Studying what God’s Word says about all that He is can assist us to know his very nature and character much more.
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