I AM – GOD OF CREATION

Jn.6:20 – But Jesus says to them, “I am. Don’t be afraid”.

When Jesus uses the phrase – “I am” – it is time to stop and take notice. The Lord is in that moment revealing Himself as the Eternal One, the One who met with Moses in the burning bush. In this passage Jesus is coming to His disciples in the middle of a totally helpless situation. These men were experienced fishermen who had navigated these waters all of their lives. They had never been in a storm raging like this one, they were in way over their heads not knowing more than just a storm on the sea was involved in this encounter. That’s when Jesus came to them walking on the water, “I am”, He declared. “I am the Lord of Creation, the Lord of the wind and the waves, don’t be afraid”. If He is the I am of the Bible He is creator and ruler of all things. He displayed this as He walked on the water and caused the wind and the waves to lay down. Here is how Johnson describes this passage.

“It is I; be not afraid. This is the gospel message of peace, on the ground—the simple ground—“It is I.” Christ’s presence is peace to the soul.—Jacobus. How often has he to speak this word of encouragement, even to his own! almost always when they are brought suddenly, or in an unusual way, face to face with him! It is I. Literally, I am. The same language used by Jesus in Jerusalem (John 8:58), for which the Pharisees would have stoned him, and in the Old Testament to designate Jehovah (Exodus 3:14). Here I should prefer to give it this meaning: Christ says not merely, “It is I, your Friend and Master;” he says, at least implies, it is the “I AM,” who is coming to you, the Almighty One who rules wind and waves, who made them, and whom they obey.—Abbott.”

This is the beauty of the humanity of Christ. He comes to us in the storm as our friend as well as ruler of all things. The humanity and deity of Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, comforts our souls in all of our afflictions. As a man he is moved by the troubles we face in life, as the great I am He rules all things.