Yes — Jesus clearly claimed to be God.
In John 8:58 Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am," applying the divine name "I AM" to Himself. Les Feldick teaches that this was a direct claim to be the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the same One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush.
John 8:58 — This is Jesus' clearest recorded claim to deity, applying God's name "I AM" to Himself.
Exodus 3:14 — God reveals His name as "I AM," the name Jesus later takes in John 8:58.
In John 8:58, during a confrontation with the religious leaders, Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." The word Jesus applies to Himself, "I am," matches the name God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14: "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Scripture also identifies the promised child in Isaiah 9:6 as "The mighty God," and John 14:9 records Jesus telling Philip, "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
Les Feldick points directly to John 8, where the Pharisees challenged Jesus' claim to have seen Abraham. Jesus' answer — "Before Abraham was, I am" — was, Les says, a clear claim to be the One who spoke from the burning bush: the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He explains that throughout John's Gospel Jesus used seven "I am" statements that line up with the "I AM" of Exodus, and that Jesus never backed away from being the I AM. Les also refutes the idea that Jesus never claimed deity, noting that theologians and even pastors today deny it, but Scripture consistently presents Him as God. He points to Isaiah's prophecy that the child would be called "The Mighty God," to Jesus' words to Philip that seeing Him was seeing the Father, and to Paul's Damascus road experience, where the glorified Jesus identified Himself as the Jehovah Paul had been persecuting.
According to Les, when the religious leaders of Israel confronted Jesus and questioned His claim to have seen Abraham, Jesus answered with the words recorded in John's Gospel: "Before Abraham was, I am." Les says Jesus was telling them, "I'm the same one that spoke from the burning bush. I'm the Jehovah of the Old Testament."
In Exodus 3, the voice from the burning bush told Moses that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had sent him, and revealed His name as "I AM THAT I AM." Les connects this directly to Jesus' statement in John 8, showing that when Jesus said "Before Abraham was, I am," He was claiming to be the same eternal, preexistent "I AM" of Scripture. Les also notes that there are seven distinct "I am" statements in John matching seven "I AM" statements in the Old Testament.
Les notes that a national survey of preachers and pastors found 89% did not believe in the deity of Christ, and says this is exactly why he answers these questions the way he does. In his teaching, Jesus is God the Son, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Word who became flesh. He cites Isaiah 9:6, where the coming child is called "The Mighty God," and John 14:9, where Jesus tells Philip that to see Him is to see the Father.
Survey of Pastors on the Deity of Christ
Les cites a survey showing 89% of preachers/pastors rejected Jesus' deity, and contrasts it with his own answer.
Paul's Damascus Road Recognition
Paul realizes he is speaking to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jehovah, when the Lord answers "I am Jesus."
Jesus Is the Mighty God
Les rejects the claim that Jesus never said He was God, pointing to Isaiah's prophecy that He would be called "The Mighty God" and to Jesus' words to Philip.
Jehovah God in the Old Testament
Les explains that Jehovah is the person of the Godhead who communicates with, redeems, and fellowships with the human race.
The Great "I Am" in John 8
Les shows that when Jesus told the Pharisees "Before Abraham was, I am," He was claiming to be the same Jehovah who spoke from the burning bush.
Seven I AM Statements in John
Les explains that Jesus never backed away from being the I AM, and that John records seven "I am" statements matching seven Old Testament "I AM" statements.
Jehovah as God the Son
Les identifies God the Son as the one whose name becomes Jehovah, the Lord who is called Most High.
Jehovah Is God the Son
Les equates the Lord God with Jehovah, defining Him as God the Son and the One who became flesh.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
This is Jesus' direct claim to be the eternal "I AM" of Scripture.
Exodus 3:14: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
This is the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush, the name Jesus later applied to Himself.
Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The prophecy calls the coming child "The mighty God," showing His deity.
John 14:9: Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Jesus equates seeing Himself with seeing the Father, a direct claim to deity.
Yes. In John 8:58 Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am." Les Feldick explains that this applies God's covenant name "I AM" to Jesus, showing He was claiming to be God.
God tells Moses that His name is "I AM THAT I AM." Les teaches that Jesus used the same name in John 8:58, proving He was the same God who spoke from the burning bush.
Yes. He points to surveys showing many pastors reject the deity of Christ and answers by teaching that Jesus is God the Son, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, who became flesh.
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