When Jesus began revealing Himself to His disciples, He said “I AM” gentle and lowly in heart. In Mathew 11, Jesus said: “Learn of Me” then He began revealing His nature and character, and that He is the Son of God.
John was preaching, “There comes One after me Who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.” “I baptize with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” As John was baptizing at the Jordan river, Jesus came to him to be baptized.
As soon as Jesus was baptized and came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. Then suddenly a voice came from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I AM well pleased.” All of heaven was involved in revealing Jesus as the Christ. Jesus was being baptized in water, the Holy Spirit was descending upon Him in the form of a dove, and the Father was declaring His pleasure with His Son from heaven. Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
In John’s gospel Jesus gave 23 “I AM” statements to reveal Himself to them.
- He said, “I AM the Bread of Life” four times (6:35, 41, 48, 51)
- He told them, “I AM HE” six times (4:26; 8:24, 28; 18:5, 6, 8)
- He told the Pharisees,“I AM the Light of the World” (8:12)
- While giving a lesson about the Good Shepherd, Jesus said, “I AM the Door of the sheep.” (10:7, 9)
- Then He said, “I AM the Good Shepherd.” (10:11, 14)
- After Lazarus had died, Jesus told Martha, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life.” (11:25)
- In a lesson to His disciples, Jesus told Thomas, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6)
- To explain His relationship with believers Jesus said, “I AM the True Vine,” and later He said, “I am the Vine and you are the branches.” (15:1, 5)
We need to know Who Jesus is.
Matthew 16:13-14 NLT When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
This presents problems that some people have with Jesus. Those who witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard His teaching had difficulty knowing Who He was. They thought He was someone great, but they really did not know who He was. When people are left to their own wisdom and devices it is difficult to determine Who Jesus is.
Matthew 16:15-17 NLT Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
Then Jesus said, the only way that Peter could know that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of the living God was by revelation from the Father.
God wants to reveal this truth to you about Jesus Christ.
To truly know Jesus Christ we must have the intervention of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide you into all truth…” “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit is going to take the necessary steps to make Christ known in our hearts.
We need to know Who Jesus is?
The historical evidence is astounding. When Jesus started declaring “I AM,” He confirmed that with irrefutable evidence. He healed the sick, raised the dead, opened blinded eyes, cleansed lepers, and did amazing acts of power. He did all of these things so that the world would know that He had come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There is no greater certainty than “I AM.”
John 8:58 NKJV Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
This is the definitive certainty of the eternal all knowing, all powerful, eternal God. In Matthew 11:29, while declaring His absolute timeless deity, Jesus said: “For I AM gentle and humble in heart.” From a position of sovereign power and omniscient knowledge, He spoke with the clarity of the King of Kings and Son of God. He knew that He was the Son of God and was able to declare the truth with a gentle and humble heart. This is the confidence that Christ possessed in His position with the Father.
Philippians 2:6-11 NIV84 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We can know with certainty the reality of Who Jesus is by the redemptive, reconciling, and saving grace of God that comes through Him. God has made Jesus Christ known to us by bringing us into a personal experience and inward reality of Christ. When you receive and believe the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is filled with the power of God to save anyone who believes, (Romans 1:16). The Holy Spirit gives us an inward witness and testimony that Jesus Christ is Lord and makes such a dramatic change in us that we become a new creation in Christ Jesus. This is the Good News that the old things of your sinful past are gone and all things have been made new.
Galatians 4:6-7 CEV Now that we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. And His Spirit tells us that God is our Father. You are no longer slaves. You are God’s children, and you will be given what He has promised.
God the Father has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.
This is not our striving to be free from the entanglements of our history, it is God’s work within us. Right now the Holy Spirit is busy making the reality of Jesus Christ known in our hearts and lives.
John 8:31-32 NKJV Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Jesus was speaking to Abraham’s descendants who had been in bondage to no one. Listen to these words again: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus was saying that if we hear and abide in His Word certain things would happen in our lives. First, we would become His disciples and then His word would make us free. True freedom comes by hearing Christ’s words. Those who heard this said they were not in bondage.
John 8:34-36 NKJV Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Jesus was talking about the freedom He gives to those who know their sins are forgiven.
Something dramatic happens in us when we really know that we have been made free from the bondage and power of sin. Not only are we made free, we have been given access to the Father.
- Do you know that you have been made free?
- Do you know that you are a child of God?
John 14:6-7 NKJV Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Jesus was alone with His disciples at this time and Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
Jesus was talking about the unity He enjoyed with the Father. The reason that He came was to reveal the Father and open up the way to Him. Everything about Christ was a testimony of the Father. If you want access to the Father so that you may find grace and mercy, you must come through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” This is the way to get your prayers answered. This is the way to find joy and peace. This is the way to find relief from your struggles.
How are we going to find the way and the truth and the life?
John 16:13-14 NIV Jesus said, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”
Jesus said: “I am the Truth.”
The Truth is not just something that is learned, understood, or figured out.
The Truth is the Person, Jesus Christ.
We must not lose focus on what the Holy Spirit is sent to do. Every gift, blessing, and miracle is given to bring us into a greater understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will draw us to Christ.
When we abide in Christ, there is rest, peace, and deliverance. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to conform us to Christ. He will form Christ in us. Every work of the Holy Spirit has this single purpose to bring us to Christ and glorify Christ in us. His ultimate goal is to develop our reliance on Christ.
In Galatians 2:20 NIV Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
This is God’s goal for your life. He wants to reveal Christ Jesus to you in such a way that He becomes the great I AM for your life. The Holy Spirit wants you to realize that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Keep looking to Jesus. He is the only One Who can complete your salvation. He is able to save you. He is able to give you life. He is able to heal your body. He is able to redeem you from destruction. In your life, Jesus is the great “I AM.”
