Say MY Name!

John 18:6
6 And when He said to them, I am, they went aback, and fell down on the earth.

Lately I’ve been considering our view of Jesus as a Christian community. I think that sometimes we forget that Jesus Christ is, was, and always will be God. He was so much more then just a mere man teaching, healing, and prophesying, He was God in human form. Jesus Christ (AKA-GOD) humbled Himself to a human body for the purpose of salvation, but make no mistake about it, this was no man!

It’s become all to easy in today’s society to lose touch with reality. We live in a virtual world where pictures are digitally enhanced for quality and reality is what you perceive it to be. But Jesus, He walked in the real world. There were no computers or cameras. Time Magazine wasn’t able to make Him the “man of the year” and then re-touch His photo so He fit our minds perception of Him. When He walked in the flesh, He was real to the people. Both man and God walking side by side with them. They witnessed His miracles first hand, they touched His perfect body, and they saw Him die. They ate and drank with Him, cried with Him, and saw Him get mad!

We, on the other hand, have a warped view of Jesus. We have a mental picture of some long-haired hippie wearing a toga and sandals with a well manicured beard talking in a soft, low voice with pretty blue eyes. He’s not super buff, but He’s not a metro-wuss. He always has a peaceful look about him, and is never portrayed as aggressive or angry. That’s not the real Jesus, though.

The truth is that Jesus, Son of God, and God in whole, was there in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God.....” and He’s right there in Revelation 22:21 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ...” He’s not a man, a prophet, or a martyr. He’s the Savior of His creation; the Atoning Sacrifice. He is the Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. (Psalm 18:2) He is I-AM. When the Pharisees and soldiers came under the cover of night to arrest Jesus they were completely unaware of His power and might. They thought He was a threat to their way of life, much like the people of today. They thought He was just a man and that they could easily take hold of Him and control Him. They were mistaken, much like society today. They asked who is Jesus of Nazareth. He answered, “I AM”. We think that He was answering as a person would, but He was just saying His name. He was correcting them. They thought they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth, but what they meant to say was, “Who is Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and Earth?” When Jesus spoke His name, “I AM” they fell to the ground. (EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AT HIS NAME. Phillipians 2:10) In an act of grace and mercy, He held out His hands and surrendered to them.

Jesus Christ, Comforter-Healer-Salvation, is our best friend, but He’s also God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Let’s try to remember that when we approach Him with conversation.