¹⁹ “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.

One of the unique phrases as recorded by John the gospel writer is Jesus’ use of “I am.” With simple, yet powerful imagery Jesus was the Master of metaphor. Seven times He identifies Himself with “I am …”:

I am the Bread of Life (John 6:33, 48)
I am the Light of the World (John 8:12, 9:5)
I am the Door (John 10:9)
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
I am the Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
I am the Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6)
I am the Vine (John 15:1)

Yet even more basic to who Christ is, is found in the abbreviated, condensed form, “I am” without any further qualifier. He is the “I am.” We find this clearly seen in John 8:24, 28 and the well known verse, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Here in our verse, the same truncated phrase actually occurs, though the translators wrestle with how best to render it, since “I am” in English is an incomplete sentence. The NASB and NKJV translations italicize the word “he” as in “I am he”), the NIV renders it, “I am who I am.” The NLT has it as, “I am the Messiah.” Literally, the underlying Greek of our verse today reads, “I am,” identical with John 8:58!

This “I am” reflects back on the Greek translation of Isaiah (which was the common OT version in use during Jesus’ time), where the identical underlying words are used repeatedly from chapters 41- 48 (for example, Isaiah 41:4, 43:13, 46:4, 48:12). The phrase emphasizes God’s uniqueness as the One who is the answer to all Israel’s needs, and is unlike false gods. The Jewish mind understood the connection Jesus was making between Himself and Yahweh, when they tried to stone Him in John 8:59. The disciples may very well have made the connection as well, but they were probably still reeling from the talk about a betrayer in their midst. There was much in the Upper Room that was confusing to them. But Jesus was preparing them for their post-resurrection ministry. He didn’t expect them to understand the connection at that point. We conclude then, that accurately telling the future about His betrayer became an authenticating sign that Jesus was in fact the Messiah, God come in the flesh.

Lord Jesus, as I see one more evidence of You being God in the flesh, I praise You unashamedly. You are not just a prophet, but God to be worshipped.