“I AM”
“I AM”
Thursday in Fifth Week of Lent
April 6, 2017
John 8:51-59
“Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM (John 8:58).”
Today’s Gospel turns to be a watershed for both Jesus and the Jewish authorities. Jesus did not only claim that He is greater than the prophets and Abraham, but He is the “I AM”. For us, modern-day disciples of Jesus, we find nothing wrong when Jesus declared that He is “I AM”, but for the early Jews and Christians alike, Jesus practically claimed He is God.
If we go back to the Book of Exodus, we read the story of Moses who encountered God at the site of the burning bush. When Moses asked the personal name of God, He revealed Himself as “I AM WHO AM” or simply “I AM” (see Exo 3). In Hebrew Bible, it is written as “YHWH” and as a sacred tradition, the Jews refused to pronounce this holy name of God. Thus, when Jesus called Himself as “I AM”, He did not only break the sacred tradition, but He made clear that He was He who appeared to Moses and called him into a mission to liberate Israelites from Egypt. Thus, naturally far greater than Abraham or any prophet.
The Jews might accept if Jesus was coming as Messiah or prophet, and in fact, many were expecting this from Jesus. But, a human that was claiming himself to be God, this is an insult to their core religious value. No wonder that the Jews began to pick up stones and ready to kill Jesus. He simply committed a blasphemy. Yet, Jesus had to reveal who He is, otherwise, all the things He had said would not make any sense. How was it possible for Jesus to give the fullness of life if He was not God? How was it possible for Jesus to set us free from sin if He was not the divine Savior? How was it possible for Jesus to resurrect from the death if He was not the Lord of life and death?
As Jesus’ teachings were difficult for the Jews, they remain difficult for us now. How do we understand the truth of Holy Trinity? How do we know that grace is truly working in our lives? How do remain steadfast in holy lives while sinful lifestyles have become common norms? Often, we do not fully understand Jesus as God, but we do not pick a stone and throw at Him. What makes us disciples is despite the difficulty of following Him, we still believe in in Him. As Peter confessed, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)”
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP