Wow, "I Am" is mentioned 719 times in the Bible. 508 in the Old Testament and 211 in the New Testament.
In John's Gospel Jesus keeps informing his people that he is the 'I Am'.
John 4:25-26 The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming - the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us".
Then Jesus told her, "I Am the Messiah!"
John 6:19 They rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, "Don't be afraid. I am here.
The unbelieving people heard Jesus say in John 8:23-24 Jesus continued, "You are from below, I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins."
John 8:28 Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he.
John 8:58 Jesus answered "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am! At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
John 13:19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I Am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.
John 18:4-8 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. "Who are you looking for?" he asked.
"Jesus the Nazarene," they replied.
"I Am he," Jesus said. (Judas who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said "I Am he," they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, "Who are you looking for?"
And again they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene."
"I told you that I Am he," Jesus said. "And since I am the one you want, let these others go."
For me reading these sacred texts it is easy for me to see the link. The "I Am". We have the written word to view and masticate on. We can underline the "I Am" but the people of the time didn't have hindsight, nor this visual delight of the New Testament. Although they did have 508 mentions of the name "I Am" in the Old Testament. That repetition like a 'light bulb' was there for them to encounter as Jesus revealed His Divine Nature.
How often do we say the words "I am".
I am hungry. I am tired. I am bored. I am fed up. I am depressed. I am alone. I am lonely. I am sad. I am distressed. I am worried. I am awful. I am frightened. I am trapped. I am desperate.
I am happy. I am alive. I am grateful. I am joyful. I am loved. I am content. I am satisfied. I am attractive. I am peaceful. I am fed. I am full. I am wonderful. I am saved. I am restored. I am released.
Just as Jesus revealed Himself to us so we reveal ourselves to those around us. Are our "I am's" revealing a joyous love of God's nature uniting us with His revelations and guiding them to the Truth? Or are our "I am's" distorting God's nature and deserting His revelations and leading others away from the Truth?
Can I say in Truth as revealed in John 13:19 anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.
We are messengers of "I Am." We have a responsibility to the Divine Nature to honour His "I Am" in our lives, so that others will see who the Greatest "I Am" is, in our lives.
