There’s a big difference between saying:
John 9:9 Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “
I am the man.”
and saying:
[58] Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
before Abraham was**, ****I am.**”
For a man to say that He existed before Abraham who lived thousands of years ago and at the same time use the name I AM is completely different than someone saying “I am the man” even if the Greek word is the same.
Also, there is a passage in John that people seem to forget. First of all, how do we know that Jesus claimed to be God? We can know by seeing what the Jews thought he claimed. Even though Jesus didn’t say “I am GOD” does not mean that He didn’t claim to be God in a Jewish way. We have to understand Judaic context in 1st Century AD in order to know that Jesus did and said many things that point to Him claiming to be Divine. So the question is, did the Jews think He claimed to be God? Well, yes…
John10:
[32] Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?”
[33]
The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God."
[34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law,
I said, you are gods'? [35] If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), [36] do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, You are blaspheming,’ because I said, `
I am the Son of God’?
[37] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;
[38] but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
[39] Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
Also, there are many instances where Jesus uses the name I AM in a divine context. Someone can say “I AM going to the store” and it wouldn’t mean that they’re claiming to be God. But let’s see how Jesus uses the I AM in a couple of place:
Matthew 14
[23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
[24] but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.
[25] And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them,
walking on the sea.
[26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
[27] But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart,
it is I; have no fear.”
[28] And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.”
[29] He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus;
[30] but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
[31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”
[32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
[33]
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
First of all, the words translated as “it is I” are the same words in Greek that are translated as “I AM” in the other I AM passages. The Greek word is Ego Emi. So the passage can also be translated as “I AM, do not be afraid.” So when you see someone walking on the water and screaming out “I AM” it is a different I AM then if someone were to say “I AM going to the store…” It all depends on the context. Notice in verse 33, they pay Him homage which even further shows that Jesus is claiming to be divine and the Apostles were starting to understand it that way. Why else would they pay Him homage and worship?
Another passage where the meaning of the I AM is not just an “I am going to the store” type of meaning is:
John 8:
[24] I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that
I am he."
Again, “I AM HE” is EGO EMI in the Greek which is the same as the other I AMs. The context is key. The literal translation in the Greek would read “I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I AM.”
These are found throughout the Gospels but here is one more:
[2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with his disciples.
[3] So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
[4]
Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
[5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “
I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
[6] When he said to them, “
I am he,”
they drew back and fell to the ground.
[7] Again he asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
[8] Jesus answered, “
I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go.”
Same thing again: “I am he” is really “I AM” in the Greek (ego emi). When He tells them “I AM” they fall on the floor. Do you see the context and the difference between someone saying “I AM going to the store” and the way Jesus uses the “I AM”? It is completely different even if the Greek word is the same. The Greek word in the Septuagent that is used in Exodus 3 when God says He is the “I AM” is the same Greek word that is used by Jesus when He uses the I AM in these ways.
Hope that helps. God bless you.
!
