Yes — in John 8, Jesus claims to be God by applying the divine name "I AM" to Himself.
Jesus answers the Jews' challenge about Abraham by saying, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). By using the words "I am," He deliberately takes the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). Les Feldick explains that this is Jesus telling the Jews He is the same Jehovah of the Old Testament — the pre-eternal, self-existent I AM.
John 8:58 — The verse in which Jesus directly applies the divine name "I AM" to Himself — the heart of His claim to be God.
Exodus 3:14 — The Old Testament revelation of God's name "I AM THAT I AM," which Jesus uses in John 8:58.
In John 8, the Jews are confronting Jesus. After His teaching about those who keep His word never tasting death, they answer, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death" (John 8:52). When the Jews challenge how a man not yet fifty could have seen Abraham, Jesus replies in John 8:58, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." In Exodus 3:14, God told 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." The same "I AM" wording that God used for His own name is the wording Jesus uses for Himself in John 8:58.
Les Feldick reads John 8:58 as Jesus' clearest claim to be Jehovah. He points back to Exodus 3, where God told Moses that His name is "I AM THAT I AM." When the Jews tell Jesus He is not even fifty years old and ask how He could have seen Abraham, Jesus answers, "Before Abraham was, I am." Les explains that with these words Jesus was saying, "I'm the same one that spoke from the burning bush. I'm the Jehovah of the Old Testament." Les calls Jesus "the I Am of the burning bush," "the I Am of pre-eternity," and "the I Am of all of Scripture." He also points out that John contains seven "I am" statements — "I am the bread of life," "I am the way and the truth," "I am the resurrection," "I am the good shepherd" — showing that Jesus never backed away from being the I Am. Les contends that theologians who deny that Jesus claimed to be God have to throw Scripture away.
Les explains that the Jews had been trying to get Jesus in a corner, attempting to prove He was an impostor and a blasphemer. Their objection was that Abraham and the prophets had died. Then, because Jesus was not yet fifty years old, they asked how He could have seen Abraham. Jesus answered in John 8:58 with the great "I am" statement.
According to Les, Jesus is claiming to be the "I AM" of the burning bush — the One who told Moses, "I AM THAT I AM." He is not merely saying He existed before Abraham; He is identifying Himself as the pre-eternal, self-existent God revealed throughout Scripture. Les says this is the same Jehovah of the Old Testament who revealed Himself to Israel.
Yes, in Les's teaching. He points out that Jesus made seven distinct "I am" statements in John that align with seven Old Testament Jehovah names, and Jesus never backed away from being the I Am. Les also says that theologians who maintain Jesus never claimed to be God have to throw Scripture away.
Confrontation in John 8
Les sets the scene: the Jews were trying to get Jesus in a corner and prove He was an impostor or blasphemer. Their challenge about Abraham being dead sets up the "I am" reply.
Burning Bush "I AM" Applied to Jesus
Les directly connects Exodus 3:14 with John 8:58, teaching that Jesus was saying, "I'm the same one that spoke from the burning bush. I'm the Jehovah of the Old Testament."
Seven I AMs in John
Les shows that in John 8:58 Jesus uses the divine name "I AM," and throughout John there are seven distinct "I am" statements that match seven Old Testament Jehovah names, proving Jesus never retreated from that claim.
The Pre-Eternal Christ
Les explains that Jesus' "Before Abraham was, I am" declares He is the pre-eternal, self-existent I Am who has been revealed from the Old Testament onward.
Jesus as High Priest: The Order of Melchizedek Explained
And then if you come on down to verse 20, or verse 19 rather, and he blessed him and said, "'Blessed be Abram of the Most High God," but finish the sentence, "'possessor of heaven and earth.'" Then come up to verse 22, and now Abraham picks it up, or Abram, and he repeats it.
Answering Denials of Christ's Deity
Les uses the "I AM" passages to insist that Jesus did claim to be God and that those who deny His deity have to reject Scripture.
What Does Revelation 22 Really Mean? Eternity Explained
I Am the root and the origin and the offspring of David. And repeat the verb if I may. And I Am the bright and morning star. Now I usually, if I have more time, I usually like to point out that there are seven distinct I Am's in the Old Testament with regard to God and the nation of Israel.
Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 7:5-14 Explained
And so I like to put it that this is his, at least in mind, if not in actual word, he knew he was talking to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Jehovah. And so he says, Who art thou, Lord? Or who art thou, Jehovah? And when Jehovah answered, I am Jesus, man, who would have even thought such a thing in Paul's shoes? Jehovah is claiming to be Jesus of Nazareth whom he hated and detested, who he t…
John 8:52: Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
The Jews challenge Jesus because Abraham and the prophets are dead, setting up the exchange that leads to Jesus' "I am" claim.
John 8:57: Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
The Jews question how Jesus, who was not yet fifty, could possibly have seen Abraham.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
This is the central verse that answers how Jesus claims to be God in John 8.
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.
The Old Testament name "I AM" that Jesus applies to Himself in John 8:58.
Yes. In John 8:58 Jesus says, "Before Abraham was, I am." Les Feldick teaches that this is a direct claim to be the "I AM" of the burning bush — the same Jehovah of the Old Testament. Jesus is not merely claiming to have existed before Abraham; He is taking the divine name of God.
Les explains that the phrase means Jesus is the pre-eternal, self-existent I Am — the One who told Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" at the burning bush. It identifies Jesus as the Jehovah of the Old Testament, not just a man who lived before Abraham.
Les says the Jews had been trying to get Jesus in a corner, trying to prove that He was an impostor and a blasphemer. When Jesus spoke about keeping His word and never tasting death, they replied that Abraham and the prophets had died, and they later asked how a man not yet fifty could have seen Abraham.
Les says there are seven distinct "I am" statements in John, such as "I am the bread of life," "I am the way and the truth," "I am the resurrection," and "I am the good shepherd." He says these fit perfectly with seven Jehovah, or "I am," names in the Old Testament.
Watch the Teaching: Who is Melchizedek? Understanding the "Most High God" & His Names