Jesus, The Great I Am (Matthew 14:27)

 
 
 

Sermon Summary

Pastor David Yan

29 June 2025

Jesus said he was the I AM. The statement, I AM, was used in Exodus to refer to the Lord God. It simply means “I EXIST.” Jesus is claiming to be divine.

Jesus, the great I AM sent his disciples into a storm. Troubled by the storm they were more troubled at the sight of Jesus walking on the sea. No one can walk on water. That is against the law of nature. But Jesus is the one who made the law and being the great I AM he is able to go against the law as he wishes.

The disciples cried out “It is a ghost!” It was not a ghost. It was Jesus, the great I AM. Jesus is with his people in their storms and he is with them even if there is no storm. The Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He watches over his people all the year (Deut. 11:12).

In the storm Jesus tells his disciples not to be afraid. Fear comes when we look at storms and not the Saviour. Jesus knew their fears and immediately told them, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus knows our fears. His grace is available in our time of need.

Jesus is the I AM. Consider what this means.

I AM means he is self-existing. Before Abraham was, the Lord already ex isted (John 8:58). He is the great I AM. Those who come to God must believe that he exists (Hebrews 11:6). He is not created. Idols are created. But not Jesus. He exists. He is God. If he were hungry he would not tell us. He owns everything (Psalm 50:12).

I AM means he is self-revealing. How did Moses come to see that the Lord is the I AM? How did these disciples in the storm know that Jesus is the I AM? And how did John on the Island of Patmos come to know that Jesus is the I AM? None of them knew the Lord to be the I AM unless the Lord revealed himself. Therefore we understand that the I AM is self-revealing. He reveals himself according to his will.

Jesus evokes faith. Peter saw Jesus walking on the sea and wanted to go to him. Jesus spoke the word “Come”. Peter walked. Jesus desires faith from his followers. Our mustard-seed faith can grow into something beyond imagination. But Peter faltered and Jesus told him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. Doubt not Jesus. He is the I AM.

The disciples worshipped Jesus saying “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33). Worship is reserved for God. Jesus’s disciples knew this. They knew the Ten Commandments that only God was to be worshipped. Yet they worshipped Jesus. Were they breaking the Commandment? In no way. They were worshipping the great I AM. Note that Jesus received their worship, something which Paul and Barnabas refused when people sought to idolize them.

On several occasions Jesus said he was the I AM. These occasions are recorded by the apostle John. He wrote that readers may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).

  • Jesus said I AM the bread of life and the light of the world (John 6:35; 8:12).

  • Jesus said I AM the door of the sheep and the good shepherd (John 10:7; 10:14).

  • Jesus said I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

  • Jesus said I AM way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

  • Jesus said I AM the true vine (John 15:1).

  • Jesus said I AM the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8,11).

How blessed you are if all these sayings by the great I AM are embedded into your life.

 
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