Lenten Reader | Day 36

March 26th, 2024

I Am He

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Luke 18:1-9

Christ is the very center of our faith and all of history. But who IS He, this Christ, this living God? Perhaps no question more informs the way we live our lives than this one. Maybe that is where we start...looking at our lives. What does your life say about your answer to this question? How would understanding Him more fully and accurately impact your thoughts, your relationships, and your actions?

In the book of John, we are shown the greatness of His power, as well as how He lived and interacted with those around Him. Through John's Gospel, we get insight into who Jesus is through the statements that He made Himself.

He says :
● I AM the bread of life
● I AM the light of the world
● I AM the door
● I AM the good shepherd
● I AM the way, the truth, and the life
● I AM the true vine
● I AM the resurrection
● I AM he

These statements of Jesus are called the "I AM" statements, and they recall the Lord's self-identification in Exodus 3:14. In light of who Jesus is, we must consider how we, as followers of Jesus, can live our lives honoring those truths.

My prayer is that you would be abundantly blessed by understanding and experiencing more of God's love and power that comes with these astonishing statements. Jesus is who He claimed to be; He is God in the flesh...the Great "I AM"!

I pray that by understanding God better, your life is filled with the confidence of faith that these truths provide. Big thoughts about God inspire big faith, and big faith motivates big action! God is beckoning you, "who do you say I AM?"

Angie Pridemore