A lesser known "I am" statement

While reading through the Bible last year, I came across an “I am” statement by Jesus I hadn’t previously recognized as being one of his well-known statements (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-5).

But it struck me as one of the best “I am” statements, encompassing all those and more.

I searched for “I am in the Bible,” finding a website (bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/I-Am-The-Lord) listing 62 Old Testament occurrences of “I am the Lord.” Space prevents me from listing all those or their references, but you can check the website for that.

So, I’ll summarize them here to lead up to the one I came across.

God told Abraham, “I am” the Lord who brought you out of Chaldea to the land of promise. He told the Israelites repeatedly he brought them out of Egyptian bondage and would take them to the land of promise because of his covenant with Abraham.

Now, “I am” brings us out of sin’s bondage when we’re united with Jesus (also “I am”) in baptism, with the promise of an eternal home with him (Romans 6:1-23; Colossians 2:9).

Christians are Abraham’s children and beneficiaries of “I am’s” eternal promise (Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7; Hebrews 11:9-16; 12:22-29). We possess that inheritance as long as we live holy lives as “I am” is holy and indwells us (1 Peter 1:3-9; 2:13-16; Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 2:38-39). He’s set us apart unto himself through the sanctifying work of the Spirit he anoints us with and gives us a new heart and the new name of Christian (1 Peter 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 12:13; Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16).

“I am” gives clear guidance for holy living to show him appropriate reverence and not profane his name (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3-11).

“I am” calls us to righteousness for his glorify and to be his light for others to find him by speaking only as he’s spoken (Romans 3:21-26; Matthew 3:13-17; 15:7-14; 1 Peter 4:11).

We’re to reveal “I am” as the only God, the beginning and the end, from whom all things exist, and who delights in lovingkindness, righteousness and justice (Acts 17:24-28; James 4:12). “I am” can do anything including providing for, protecting, healing and saving from sin everyone who obeys him as the only savior (Romans 7:24-25; 8:31-39; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 5:7-10; 7:23-25).

Now for Jesus’ “I am” statement I realized after reading the same passage many times in the past, as you probably have as well. At his arrest in Gethsemane, Jesus asked the soldiers who they were looking for, to which they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth” and he responded, “I am he; I am the one you’re looking for” (John 18:1-8, paraphrased from various Bible versions).

Everyone is looking for something to improve their quality of life on earth, mostly in the wrong places, though. It’s up to Christians to reveal that the abundant life in Christ is what they’re ultimately looking for (John 10:10). Are you living that life (1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15-16)?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].