The start at the beginning of this series click here.
The most direct and astounding statement Jesus made concerning His identity is in this passage in John.
The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death."
The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.' Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. (John 8:48-49)
Note first, Jesus again refers to the power of the words He speaks. “If anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” Who legitimately speaks like that? Only One who has the authority to make it true.
But this, “before Abraham was, I am” is most astounding.
Note the verb tenses “Abraham was” (past) and “I am” (present). Jesus is actively present in all moments of time. Picture all of history as a written book and Jesus is the Creator/Author. Every page is fully open to Him. He can flip forward, he can flip backward. It is the reason, that when you pray, the answer often requires something in the past, before you prayed, to have happened. He is there at your prayer and He is there to arrange the past for the answer—He is at all moments.
”I AM” — Here is Jesus making His direct claim to be GOD.
Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:13,14)
Jesus declares His name “I AM” and uses it in the context of being at all points in time. Eternal, everlasting, every moment sustaining and creating. But He just IS—uncreated eternal being.
Tomorrow I will look at prophecies concerning this identity.