But Jesus Never Claimed to be God? Actually... Yeah, He Did!

Jesus - The Great I AM

Good morning, Church! Today, we’re diving into one of the most important questions in the Christian faith: Did Jesus ever say He was God? Some folks like to argue that Jesus never explicitly claimed divinity. But when you open your Bible, oh, you’ll see the truth loud and clear!

Today, we're unpacking the powerful "I AM" statements of Jesus that leave no room for doubt.

The Power of “I AM” - Straight Outta Exodus

Let’s set the stage. Back in Exodus 3, Moses is chatting with God through a burning bush (as one does), and he asks, "Who should I say sent me?" God responds,

"Tell them I AM has sent you." (Exodus 3:14).

Now, fast forward to the New Testament, and guess what? Jesus starts dropping that same title like holy mic drops everywhere He goes!

Before Abraham Was, I AM

Let’s start with John 8:58. Jesus is having a heated discussion with the Pharisees. They start bragging about being children of Abraham, and Jesus says: "Before Abraham was, I AM." Boom! The Pharisees knew exactly what He meant because they immediately picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy. Jesus wasn’t just claiming to be old—He was claiming to be eternal.

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Next, let’s flip to John 14:6. Jesus says:

"I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

He doesn’t say, "I know the way" or "I’ll show you the truth." No, Jesus is saying He IS the way, the very embodiment of truth, and the source of eternal life. Who else but God could say that?

I AM the Bread of Life

In John 6:35, Jesus declares:

"I AM the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry."

He’s not talking about Wonder Bread, Church. He’s talking about spiritual nourishment that only He can provide.

I AM the Light of the World

John 8:12 - "I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness."

Light in the Bible is synonymous with God’s presence. Jesus is claiming to be the guiding light, the divine source of hope.

I AM the Good Shepherd

John 10:11 - "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

God is often referred to as the Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 23). Jesus is stepping into that role, saying He’s the one who will lay down His life for us.

Revelation 22 - Alpha, Omega, and Everything In Between

Let’s wrap it up with Revelation 22:13. Jesus says:

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

That’s God language, folks! No one but God can claim to be the eternal bookends of history.

Refuting the Naysayers

Some say, "Jesus never literally said, 'I am God.'" But Church, let’s get real. If I stood here and said, "I AM the light of the world" or "Before George Washington was, I AM," you'd either crown me king or call security. Jesus' audience understood exactly what He meant—and that’s why they tried to crucify Him for blasphemy.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Great I AM. Open our hearts to recognize His divinity and follow His path. May we rest in the truth that He is our way, our truth, and our life. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.