Yes — Jesus claims to be God by applying the divine name "I AM" to Himself and by identifying with the Jehovah of the Old Testament.
In John 8:58, Jesus tells the Jews, "Before Abraham was, I am," using the same self-existent title God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). Les Feldick teaches that this is Jesus claiming to be the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the pre-eternal God who spoke from the bush.
John 8:58 — Jesus directly applies the divine 'I AM' name to Himself, claiming existence before Abraham.
Exodus 3:14 — God reveals His name as 'I AM THAT I AM,' which Jesus echoes in John 8:58.
In John's Gospel, when the Jews question how Jesus could have seen Abraham, Jesus makes a direct claim to pre-existence and to the divine name: "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). The wording intentionally echoes God's self-identification to Moses: "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" (Exodus 3:14). The divine name is also tied to the patriarchs: "Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6).
Les Feldick teaches that when Jesus said "Before Abraham was, I am," He was telling the Jews that He is the same one who spoke from the burning bush—the Jehovah of the Old Testament (Clip 1). This is not a metaphor; it is a claim to be the pre-eternal, self-existent I AM (Clip 5). Les also shows that in the burning bush account, God and the voice (Jehovah) are used synonymously because Christ is God (Clip 4). He points out that even the angel of the Lord / Redeemer in the passage is called God (Clip 3). Les responds to theologians who deny that Jesus ever claimed to be God by saying they have to throw Scripture away (Clip 6). For him, the New Testament's use of "I AM" is the plain language of deity—the same name revealed to Moses in Exodus.
The Jews had sarcastically asked how Jesus, who was not even fifty years old, could have seen Abraham. Jesus answered, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). Les Feldick teaches that Jesus was claiming to be the I AM of the burning bush—the self-existent God of the Old Testament, the Jehovah who spoke to Moses. In the Gospels, Jesus wasn't merely claiming to be older than Abraham; He was claiming the divine name and identity.
The Jews immediately responded by saying Jesus had a devil, pointing out that Abraham and the prophets were dead, and asking "Whom makest thou thyself?" Jesus answered that they had not known the Father, but He did know Him (John 8:52-55). Les Feldick explains that Jesus had moved onto "the territory of God"—taking for Himself the divine prerogative over life and death. Their hostile reaction shows they understood His words as a claim to divine identity.
In Exodus 3, God tells Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" and identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Les Feldick teaches that the one who spoke from the burning bush is the same I AM who later said "Before Abraham was, I am." He also notes that in the burning bush passage, God and the voice are used interchangeably because Christ is God.
The Jews' Reaction to Jesus's Claim
Les explains how the Jews challenged Jesus, calling His words demonic and demanding to know who He was making Himself to be.
Burning Bush to John 8:58
Les explicitly connects Jesus's 'Before Abraham was, I am' to the voice at the burning bush, saying Jesus was claiming to be the Jehovah of the Old Testament.
The Name I AM in Exodus 3:14
Les highlights God's self-revelation as 'I AM THAT I AM' and points forward to John's Gospel.
Christ Called God at the Burning Bush
Les teaches that the Redeemer/angel of the Lord at the burning bush is also called God, showing Christ's deity.
God and the Voice Used Synonymously
Les explains that 'God' and 'the voice' in the burning bush account are used interchangeably because Christ is God.
Jesus Is the Pre-eternal I AM
Les describes Jesus's statement as a claim to be the pre-eternal, self-existent I AM.
Jesus Claimed His Deity
Les refutes the idea that Jesus never claimed to be God, showing that the New Testament presents Him as the I AM/Jehovah.
I AM Revealed in the Old Testament
Les traces the I AM/Jehovah through the Old Testament, including His appearances to Abraham and at the burning bush.
John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
This is the clearest New Testament verse where Jesus takes the divine name 'I AM' for Himself.
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.
God's original self-identification as 'I AM' is the Old Testament background for Jesus's words in John 8:58.
Exodus 3:6: Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
This verse shows the 'I AM' identifying Himself with the patriarchs, the same God Jesus claimed to be.
Exodus 6:3: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
The name Jehovah is revealed more fully in Moses' day, and Les connects this to Jesus's claim to be the I AM.
Yes. In John 8:58, Jesus says, "Before Abraham was, I am." Les Feldick teaches that this is the same divine name God used when He spoke to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14.
Their reaction shows they did. They immediately said Jesus had a devil and asked "Whom makest thou thyself?" because they understood He was taking for Himself the territory and name of God.
Yes. He teaches that Jesus is the same I AM who spoke from the burning bush, that Christ is God, and that the voice in the bush is used synonymously with God because of Christ's deity.
Watch the Teaching: Who Spoke from the Burning Bush? The Mystery of "I AM" Revealed