It has been said that when Jesus was declared deserving of the death penalty by the Jewish Religious Council, He was found guilty because of Who He claimed to be.

Witness after witness is called to the late-night trial of Jesus in a determined effort to find consistent testimony that will condemn Him to death, but no such evidence is forthcoming. In a fit of frustrated rage Caiaphas asks Jesus whether He is the Messiah or not.

This was a loaded question because Jewish teachers believed that only God had the right to announce the Messiah and place Him on the throne of Israel. For someone to declare himself as the Messiah was to mock God and diminish His majesty and honour, making the alleged Messiah guilty of blasphemy. This is why Caiaphas calls for the death penalty when Jesus responds with, “I am.” As far as the religious leaders are concerned, Jesus is guilty of blasphemy.

But there is a whole lot more behind Jesus’ statement, “I am.” In the Greek text, Jesus literally says, “I am, I am” and it would be clearer in English if it were printed as “I AM.”

I AM is the Name by which God reveals Himself to Moses at the burning bush when He says, “I AM WHO I AM.” It’s an astounding revelation by God about His character because it reveals Him to be the Self-Existent One – there is no other God!

This is the term Jesus uses to describe Himself when He answers the High Priest’s question on the night of His trial.

While the significance of Jesus’ answer was lost on the Jewish Council, it should not be with us. In a few short hours from this, Jesus will go to the Cross and die for the sins of the whole world. But it isn’t simply a man Who hangs on that Cross.

It’s Jesus, the Great I AM, God in human flesh Who takes upon Himself my sin – and yours – “that we might live.”

Today’s Bible reading: Mark 14:53-65