The I AM statement found in the Gospel of John 8: 21 – 30 is what I call the climax of Jesus’ I AM statements. The situation in John 8:21 – 30 resembles one of those situations where you introduce yourself numerous times and people still don’t know you. Actually, John 8: 21 – 30 is worse. People who should recognize and understand who Jesus is didn’t. Throughout the Gospel of John Jesus makes his “I AM” statements. In the beginning of chapter 8, Jesus makes one of his “I AM” statements in the temple where a number of people including religious leaders gathered for worship and teaching of the law. It is in this environment that Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” and yet the people didn’t get it. People who were supposed to know and understand who Jesus was and what he was talking about didn’t. Actually, they were disturbed by it. So, it is in this context of Jesus revealing Himself once again yet people not understanding who he is that Jesus makes what I call the climax of his I AM statements (John 8:21 – 30).
Jesus could have given up on the Jewish leaders and others who missed the point, so to speak. He could’ve said, “Well, since they don’t get it, forget about them.” Interestingly enough, Jesus insists on revealing himself once again. Furthermore, at this time, Jesus takes his “I AM” statement to a whole new level. At this time, Jesus actually moves to the level of the very essence of his “I AM.” When Jesus says “I AM,” he is not simply using trivial words to introduce himself. He is not actually answering a trivial question because someone asked his name. Instead, Jesus was revealing the most powerful and ancient realities about Him – Jesus is Yahweh. In other words, to say that he was “I AM,” Jesus was intentionally using the letters God used to identify or, should I say, reveal Himself to Moses and the Israelites in Exodus 3:14: “I AM who I AM.” When Jesus asserts,”…I am who I claim to be” (v. 24), he is saying that he is the God who existed before the foundation of the world. He is the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac. He is the God of the Old and New Testaments. He is the God who transcends time and human history. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is the alpha and omega (the beginning and the end). He is the God who is uncontainable, indescribable, and uncontrollable. Yet, after Jesus implies all of these mind-blowing realities of who he is, people, once again, asked, “Who are you?” (v. 25).
Why didn’t they realize that they were in the presence of the one who is the Creator of all things? Some might be quick to judge and think that these people should know better. After all, some of them were part of the religious crowd present in the temple. Before we are quick to judge the crowd and religious leaders in this story, I believe missing God is a chronic problem of any human being.
Why do we miss God? Because of our sinful human nature. King David in Psalm 51:5 put it this way,
“For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me” (NLT).
Our sinful human nature kicks in whether we have just stepped in or have been in church for our entire lives. One of the many things our human nature does from the beginning is we want to be in control of everything – including God.
Our human nature often creates an image of who God is and how He should act and do things. Therefore, it causes us to be blind and miss God even if we are in church (temple) everyday. Human nature causes us to miss the fact that God is uncontainable, uncontrollable, and indescribable. The question is how much are we missing God in our lives because we want to be in charge of our lives and in charge of who God is and how he should act?
Jesus’ tirelessness persists with the Jewish leaders. He comes to the climax of his revelation not only saying “I AM” Yahweh (the God of all ages) but also pointing them (us) to the cross. Jesus, God Himself, points the way for the people who don’t get it because he is God “The Great I AM.” The great “I AM” does not give up on us even when we ignore and give up on Him time and again. Jesus points them (us) to the cross because “The Great I AM” is a God who left his glory, became human, dwelt among us, died but rose again to be in close relationship with us. Jesus Himself as “the Great I AM” points them (us) to the cross because at the cross we have to give up control. It is at the cross that we move from belonging to this world to the world above. It is at the cross that the “Great I AM” sets us free from our addictions. It is at the cross that broken relationships are mended. It is at the cross that we are healed in our body, soul, and spirit. It is at the cross that we leave our pride and presumption of telling God how and when He should move. It is at the cross that we meet God, our sins are forgiven, and there is no more condemnation upon us.
