Could you just clarify this for me though: Normally I read the reason that the authorities fell back is because of the “I Am” statement, is this true? And if it is, why wouldn’t translations make this a little more clear by using the I Am like they did with John 8:58?
Just as I said, John’s a gospel pregnant with double meanings. Reading the whole thing in context, on the literal level Jesus’ answer is simply an affirmation: “You’re looking for a Jesus? That would be me.” But the clincher is as I said earlier, John uses
egō eimi in such a way that it evokes at least three key OT phrases:
ehyeh asher ehyeh (“I am that I am,” Greek
egō eimi ho ōn “I am the one who is;” Exodus 3:14),
’ănî hû’ (cf. Isaiah 41:4; 43:10), and
’ānōḵî (cf. Isaiah 43:25; 51:12) - the last two of which are both usually rendered in Greek as
egō eimi.
Hebrew (Isaiah 43:10-13, 25 NRSV)
You are my witnesses, says the LORD,
and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that
I am he (
’ănî hû’).
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the LORD (
’ānōḵî ’ānōḵî Yhwh),
and besides me there is no savior.
I (
’ānōḵî) declared and saved and proclaimed,
when there was no strange god among you;
and you are my witnesses, says the LORD.
I am God (
’ănî ’Ēl), and also henceforth
I am He (
’ănî hû’);
there is no one who can deliver from my hand;
I work and who can hinder it?
…]
I, I am He (
’ānōḵî ’ānōḵî hû’)
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
===
Greek (New English Translation of the Septuagint)
Be my witnesses; I too am a witness, says the Lord God,
and the servant whom I have chosen
so that you may know and believe
and understand that
I am (
egō eimi).
Before me there was no other god,
nor shall there be any after me.
I am God (
egō ho Theos),
and besides me there is none who saves.
I declared and saved; I reproached
and there was no stranger among you.
You are my witnesses;
I too am a witness, says the Lord God.
Even from the beginning
there is also no one who rescues from my hands;
I will do it, and who will turn it back?
I am, I am (
egō eimi egō eimi)
the one who blots out your acts of lawlessness,
and I will not remember them at all.
As if the connection isn’t clear enough:
(John 8:23-29 ESV) He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
(10:31-39) The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—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’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 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.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
(13:18-20) “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
