What a Statement!!! “I AM”
Speaker: Steve Little
Date: November 9, 2025
Scripture Reading
John 8:57–59 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Here are some memorable statements through history:
Julius Caesar, "I came, I saw, I conquered. “
He stated this in 47 BC after a decisive battle he won. It was also on a banner that went before him in his triumphal parade when he returned to Rome.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. “
He said this statement during his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933. At the time, the nation was struggling with the Great Depression, and Roosevelt's words were intended to restore confidence and inspire action.
Martin Luther King Jr., "I have a dream. “
He gave this speech in 1963 in Washington DC on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
His dream was a vision of racial equality and justice, where people are judged by their character, not their skin color.
And, the French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician: René Descartes said "I think, therefore I am" which by he meant that by the very act of questioning one's existence proves that existence is real.
But Jesus said, “I AM”
What a Statement!!! “I AM”
Context: Confrontational Encounters (this theme runs throughout John chapter 8)
· Vs 1-11 Woman caught in adultery – this whole encounter is to test Jesus that they, the Jewish leaders, might have something of which to accuse Him (vs 6)
· Vs 12-20 This is where Jesus states, I am the light of the world.
In the Gospel of John, John records 7 ‘I am the’ statements like this one:
“I am the bread of life” John 6:35
“I am the light of the world” John 8:12
“I am the door of the sheep” John 10:7
“I am the good shepherd” John 10:11
“I am the resurrection and the life” John 11:25
“I am the way, the truth and the life” John 14:6
“I am the true vine” John 15:1
In this case the religious leaders cling to this statement and declare He is a false witness because He is witnessing of Himself. Then Jesus states that He came from above and His Father sent Him. This whole dialogue ends with this.
Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
· Vs 21-59 This final confrontational encounter begins with Jesus saying, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”
And ends with, ‘Then they took up stones to throw at Him.’
How’d He get there?
The Statement: “Before Abraham Was, I AM”
He is flat out is saying to them that He existed before Abraham and that He is the one who spoke to Moses from the burning bush saying, “I AM”.
“I AM” (Greek: ego eimi) echoes Exodus 3:14 — God’s self-revelation to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.”
Have you heard of the Septuagint? The Septuagint is the Old Testament written in Greek. The initial translation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (the Torah) started around 280–250 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. The rest of the Old Testament books were translated during the following centuries, likely completed by the 1st century AD. The name "Septuagint" means "70" in Latin and comes from the tradition that 70 Jewish scholars translated the text. In the Septuagint, in Exodus 3:14, these scholars translated the ‘I AM’ from Hebrew to the Greek - ‘ego eimi’.
· John also recorded these 7 statements Jesus made translated ‘ego eimi’ ‘I am’:
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:26
But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” John 6:20
“…for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24
“When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He…” John 8:28
“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58
“Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.” John 13:19
Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. John 18:5
Jesus doesn’t say, “I was,” but “I AM” — If He was standing in front of us right now, He would say ‘I AM’. This is not just preexistence but eternal existence and equality with Yahweh.
Eternal references:
John 1:1–3 — “In the beginning was the Word…”
Colossians 1:17 — “He is before all things…”
Revelation 1:8 — “I am the Alpha and the Omega…”
Rejection and Rage: John 8:59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him
The people understood exactly what Jesus’ was claiming — and rejected Him violently.
They picked up stones — the penalty for blasphemy (Lev. 24:1-16).
They didn’t misunderstand Him; they refused to believe Him.
Matthew 26:63-66 And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?”
They answered and said, “He is deserving of death
Jesus’ Words Then: How This Effects Our Lives Today
Knowing Jesus as “I AM” changes everything
• He is still the “I AM’ today – He is unchanging - “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8)
• He is the only One who can give eternal life. John 8:51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he shall never see death.”
• Remember and understand: Belief in the “I AM” still divides mankind — rejection and rage
Call on the Name of the Lord today. He knows what you need even before you ask Him. He hears and will answer you.
