One of the familiar characteristics of Jesus and His ministry in the Gospel of John is his familiar, “I Am” statements. There are many and perhaps none more famous than, “I am the way and the truth and the life...” (John 14:6; NIV) These words were transformative for his disciples’ (ancient and present) understanding of his identity, nature, character and mission. I believe these “I Am” statements were not only revelatory for the disciples, but were a means of revelatory affirmation for Jesus himself. I believe they informed Jesus’ understanding of himself, his identity, nature, character and mission.
We oftentimes (and rightly so) focus on the divinity of Jesus that we almost forget that He was fully human and developed as such. Sometimes in our protection of His nature as being “fully God” we don’t allow Jesus to function as we do, fully human, developing psychologically, emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially. But that’s not the picture we see in the Gospels. For example, we find that Jesus needed to withdraw to spend time alone with His Heavenly Father. He needed time away from he crowds. He needed refreshment and renewal. This wasn’t just for our benefit that we might see the necessity of these things in our lives. I believe Jesus needed these things too.
Applying this same logic, let’s look at Jesus’ “I Am” statements. These are definitely affirmations of Jesus’ uniqueness - His divinity. Only God could make such statements, much less back them up in his actions. But, and this is the point I’ve been reflecting upon today, could these “I Am” statements also serve as important affirmations and a guiding vision for who Jesus (as a man) was to live His life into and out of? Could these affirmations also serve as the defining vision of His life, pursuit and personhood? I believe so.
Because Jesus was 100% man in addition to being 100% God (at the same time) I believe Jesus had a choice as to who He was going to be and what He was going to do. Be like the 1st Adam or live as the 2nd Adam. Jesus had a choice. Give in to temptation and abandon mission. Jesus could have made that choice. Refuse to live into his true identity as the Son of God. It was possible. But he didn’t surrender or give in or abandon who He really was and what He was called to do.
Maybe, just maybe, He needed those “I Am” affirmations as much as his disciples (ancient and present) did. Maybe, just maybe, we need to define and remember our own “I Am” affirmations so that we can live into our true selves and the callings that flow from that perspective. The choice of who we will be, what we will do, how our lives influences others - it all flows from completeing the sentence, “I Am...”
Encouraging you to thrive!
Jeremy
