How is Jesus progressively revealed as the I Am?
Jesus is the pre-eternal, self-existent I Am, who said, 'Before Abraham was, I am.' He was progressively revealed through the Old Testament in various ways, then born of Mary in the flesh to Israel. After the cross and resurrection, He appeared to His followers forty days in a resurrected body.
Les explains that Jesus’ statement 'Before Abraham was, I am' claims He is the I Am—the pre-eternal, self-existent one who would be more and more revealed. Les notes Abraham knew about the coming Son of God and rejoiced to see Jesus’ day, but the Jewish leaders were unbelieving, since Jesus was only thirty-some years old yet claimed to know Abraham from 2,000 B.C. Les teaches that this I Am had already been revealed coming up through the Old Testament in various and sundry ways, then came born of Mary in the flesh and presented Himself to Israel. After the cross and resurrection, He presented Himself to His followers for forty days as the same Christ, but now in a resurrected body.