As I was reading the Gospel of John today, I was struck by the number of times Jesus uses the phrase "I Am". This seems to be John's focus...to tell us who Jesus is. The first time He uses it is in 3:11: "I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe us." In this case, He was talking to Nicodemus, who was really interested in finding out who Jesus is. He is telling him what is true, and he doesn't quite want to believe him.

The second time is in chapter 4, when He meets the woman at the well and surprises her by asking for a drink. "She said to Jesus, 'You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?' Jesus said, 'If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." (4:9-10). It was key for her to know who He was, as she had been married five times and was not married to the man she was currently living with. Jesus may have sensed that she was tired of living the way she was living.  In this case He was clearly hinting that He was the Messiah. Indeed, in verse 26 He tells her flat out that He was the Messiah. (Third use of I am.)

The fourth use is in 5:30: "But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told." In this case, Jesus is clearly showing that He submits to the Father, that He takes orders from God, even though He Himself is God. This shows us that He wants us to follow Him, just as He follows God. We would do well to heed His words. If we are following Him and are obedient, we are following God and obeying Him as well.

More to come tomorrow.