Jesus never claimed to be God, right? Jesus never claimed to be the Savior of the world, right? He was just a man—a prophet—who provided us with a good example to live by, right? At least, that’s what our society says about Jesus: “You Christians need to stop making Jesus out to be more than he really was!”
Don’t believe it. Jesus is so much more! At least, he says he is. A woman once said to Jesus, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.’” Know what Jesus said? “I, the one speaking to you—I am he” (John 4:25-26). The Savior of the world? Jesus says, “I am he!” The One who would suffer and die for our sins? “I am he!” The One who gives life? “I am he!” Jesus wasn’t just a man or a prophet. He was and is the Messiah—the Christ. He says so: “I am he!”
But that’s not all. Remember God’s special name in the Old Testament? “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Over and over in his ministry, Jesus connected himself to the great “I AM”. In fact, in the Gospel of John, he called himself “I AM” again and again. The One who has always existed? Jesus says, “I am he!” The One who created the world? “I am he!” The One who controls your future? “I am he!”
Check back often over the next weeks as we hear Jesus’ powerful and beautiful claims about himself as our God and our Savior: the bread of life, the light of the world, the gate for the sheep, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way, the vine… It all starts with this one: “I am he!”
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