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December can be such a crazy time. It really starts before Thanksgiving, and we just keep going full speed with food, shopping, presents, family, friends, decorating, lights, music and more. Even for those who know the true meaning of Christmas, we can forget midst the hustle and bustle. Or we wait until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to meditate on and celebrate Jesus’ birth.
Several years ago, I decided to try an Advent devotional to prepare my mind and heart throughout December. Wow! I don’t know why I didn’t engage in this years ago. It has been refreshing and encouraging to focus every day on Jesus. Without Jesus, all the Christmas food, shopping, presents, gatherings, decorating, etc., are empty, momentary. Jesus is the only One who brings true and lasting transformation, hope, and joy.
I have several Advent devotionals now. If you need ideas, please message me. I’m happy to share. My favorite devotional is Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp (link at the end). I also came across the “Names of Jesus Advent Calendar” by Lara Beeston (link at the end). Each day there is a card with a different name of Jesus on it. The cards come with a string and mini clothespins to hang them up. Lara Beeston sends you the verse each day and a short meditation that correspond with the name of Jesus. I ended up writing the verses on the cards, so I had everything together.
Some of you may have thought of Advent in terms of calendars where you open the “door” and find a surprise each day or your church lighting a candle each Sunday in December and discussing hope, love, joy, and peace. But the Advent season is so much more than just a hidden treat or candle. Advent in Latin means “coming.” It is a time of waiting – remembering the waiting for the coming of the promised Messiah and now, this side of the cross, waiting in the brokenness for Jesus to come again and make all things new.
Most of us don’t wait well, and current technology makes so many things instant. We forget that waiting can be good. God uses waiting for His good purposes. As I wait for Christmas, I have been blessed by focusing on the Names of Jesus each day. Each name or title for Jesus from Scripture reveals part of His character. We tend to think we know who Jesus is, but how often do we really meditate on Him and think beyond the baby born in a manger or the man who performed miracles, suffered, died, and rose again. We think of specific events in the life of Jesus, but don’t dwell on who He is.
So, for the next four weeks, I hope you will join me in looking closer at four of Jesus’ names. I will share twenty-one other names with corresponding Scripture on Facebook and Instagram or you can get your own set of cards.
“I Am” is the first name of Jesus we will consider. Jesus made several “I am” statements like “I am the vine” (John 15:5), or “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). These statements do inform us about who Jesus is and what He came to do, but they are not the same as John 8:58.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’”
In the preceding text, certain Jews were arguing with Jesus. Jesus zeroed in on their hearts. The Jews held on to their physical ancestry to Abraham while accusing Jesus of being demon possessed. Jesus pinpoints their spiritual ancestry pointing to the devil as their father not Abraham as evidenced by their works. After more discussion, Jesus states in verse 58 that “before Abraham was, I am.”
At first glance, we may just read this as Jesus existing before Abraham. Jesus is stating His eternality, but there is more to it. Let’s go further back to Exodus 3:13-14. God is speaking to Moses in the burning bush before sending Moses back to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses asks God what he should tell the Israelites if they ask the name of who sent him. He is really asking about God’s character and nature. God’s reply,
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
There is much commentary on “I AM WHO I AM.” We don’t have time to delve into all of it, but we will touch on a few points. God’s original declaration is followed by the shorter “I AM.” In Hebrew this is YAHWEH. It is the sacred and personal name of God that He gave to Moses to be known by the Israelites. It was so sacred that it was not spoken aloud except by priests in the temple. When the Scriptures were read and YAHWEH was written, it was read as LORD. You may have seen this in your Bible.
Sometimes Lord is used which comes from the Hebrew Adonai (sovereign ruler, master) to identify entities other than God, but LORD is reserved for YAHWEH. This name reminded Israel that God was sacred and personal (God set Israel apart for Himself). One article I read cited over a thousand names for God in the Bible, but YAHWEH or I AM is the unique name God chose to be known by. YAHWEH was used for God alone.
YAHWEH reveals that God is self-existent. He “is not defined or determined by any other than Himself. As the self-existent One, His promise is sure.”[1] In contrast, we are created. We are completely dependent on God (Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:16-17). God doesn’t need us, but we need Him. Although God doesn’t need us, He still loves us and desires relationship with us, so much so that He sent Jesus to redeem us and reconcile us back to Himself.
In Scripture, YAHWEH was most used in connection with God’s redemption which brings us back to Jesus’ claim of “I AM.” If a name was meant to reveal one’s character (seen throughout Scripture), Jesus clearly asserts His character in I AM. He is declaring that He is God. He uses the name of God that was most sacred and unique, so there is no confusion. And just as the name YAHWEH was linked to redemption in the Old Testament, Jesus is the fullness of God’s redemption through His atoning work on the cross.
The Jews Jesus spoke to had no clue that He was the promised Messiah. They had no interest in listening to Jesus or really knowing Him (John 8:43). They were not looking for redemption. They were horrified that Jesus claimed to be God. In fact, their response to Jesus was to pick up stones to throw at Him. Yet, Jesus is fully God, and He left all the glory in heaven that He rightfully deserved to take on flesh and dwell among us.
As we already saw, we are completely dependent on God, and it is in Jesus specifically that we are held together. Take time to read Colossians 1:15-19. It is probably the clearest depiction of Jesus’ deity as well as His eternality, His self-existence, His sustaining power over creation, and His power to reconcile man to God by His shed blood on the cross.
What is your response to I AM? Jesus, fully God, left heaven to come to earth as a baby, to suffer, die, and rise from the grave to redeem us (Philippians 2:5-11). He came to transform us from sinners to saints, from the domain of darkness to His kingdom, from slaves of sin to slaves of righteousness, from enemies of God to beloved children.
I AM gives us hope because He is self-existent. He doesn’t need us, but He wants us. There is nothing we can do to earn His love and redemption and there is nothing for those in Christ that we can do to lose His love and redemption. We belong to Him, and will eternally be with the eternal I AM.
I AM instills joy. We have everything we need in Jesus. His self-existence guarantees His promises. He has made us His own. We have innumerable reasons for joy.
Reflection
1. Have you trusted in I AM for your redemption? If not, find someone to talk to (you can message me). Don’t reject Jesus a minute longer. If you have, spend time in thanksgiving for how God has transformed you by redeeming you.
2. How does your life reflect your redemption? Are you stuck in your walk with God? What hope do you have in I AM that encourages you to keep pressing on (Philippians 3:14)?
3. What about I AM brings you joy?
4. YAHWEH was the sacred and personal name God revealed to Israel, but God is still the same God. His character hasn’t changed. Do you think of Jesus with reverence? Do you think of Him as personal and in a personal relationship with you? Give examples.
[1] Sproul, R.C. The Reformation Study Bible. (Ligonier Ministries: Lake Mary, FL, 2005), 97.
So, so, so, GOOD!!! Thanks Tara!!