The most important choice in the universe (yes, it really is)
Jesus, the Great I Am
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Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
John 8:58 (ESV)
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If you’re into apologetics, this is a fantastic verse to memorize.
It’s the clearest declaration we have of Jesus stating, emphatically, that He Is God.
The original listeners understood that was exactly what He was declaring, because they immediately picked up stones to stone Him (for blasphemy by making Himself equal with God).
Jesus simply walked away from the angry mob.
That’s incredible power.
We’ve seen a lot of angry mobs on the news over the last decade, and for someone who is the object of their anger and they’re ready to start literally throwing stones at, to just walk away…
Wow!
So, not only does Jesus clearly say He is God, He also demonstrates His power by ignoring the mob because it wasn’t His time to die yet.
The “I am” is a reference back to Moses and the burning bush.
God tells Moses that “I am” has sent him to rescue His people from the clutches of slavery.
In fact, the name of God (Yahweh) is a noun equivalent to the verb “I am.”
Jesus made it obvious that He and the Father were (still are) equal.
Which leaves all of us with a singular choice (which C.S. Lewis so famously shared):
You can either believe that Jesus was a liar, He was a lunatic, or He is Lord.
There is no room for “good person” or “good teacher.”
He is either God or He is not.
Choose.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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