Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM

The heart of today’s Gospel rests on a revelation: “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” In these words, Jesus does not merely speak about God, He speaks as God. He takes upon Himself the very name revealed in Exodus 3:14, “I AM,” the mysterious and sacred identity by which God made Himself known to Moses. This is a bold assertion of divine identity, self-existence, eternity, and unchanging presence. In the first reading, God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising fruitfulness, descendants, and a lasting relationship: “I will be your God and the God of your descendants.” This covenant is rooted in God’s faithfulness. He is the One who remains, who remembers, who sustains His promises across generations. The psalm echoes this: “The Lord remembers his covenant forever.” God is constant, dependable, and present. When Jesus declares, “I AM,” He is revealing that this same covenantal God is now standing before His people in a new and personal way. He is not simply a messenger of God’s promises; He is their fulfillment. The One who spoke to Abraham, who guided Israel, who remained faithful through history, is now present in the flesh. This is why His audience reacts so strongly, they understand the weight of His claim. To them, it sounds like blasphemy; to believers, it is revelation. The implication of this assertion is profound. First, it calls for a decision. Jesus cannot be reduced to a teacher or prophet alone. If He is truly the “I AM,” then He is Lord, and His word carries absolute authority. “Whoever keeps my word will never see death.” This is not just advice for living; it is a promise of eternal life rooted in His divine identity. Second, it invites trust. The “I AM” is not distant or abstract. He is present, faithful in every moment, unchanging amid the uncertainties of life. Just as God assured Moses and remained faithful to Abraham, Jesus assures us that He is with us now. Our struggles, fears, and doubts are met by the One who simply is, before all things, beyond all things, and within all things. Finally, it challenges us to respond in faith rather than resistance. The people in the Gospel hardened their hearts and picked up stones. Their familiarity with religious tradition did not lead them to recognize God’s presence among them. This becomes a warning for us: we can know about God and still fail to recognize Him when He speaks and acts in our lives today.