Ego Eimi, I AM, is the name of God that He presented to Moses at the burning bush. It was the most revered name of God. it is somewhat ironic that as Jesus continued His discourse with these Jewish elite, He went there! The irony lies in the fact that it was Jesus who also spoke those words as “The Angel of the Lord.”
The discussion about Jesus’ authority had circled into the climax. These leaders were bound and determined to discredit Jesus. Each attempt to prove our Lord was a fraud only demonstrated even more that He was Emmanuel. Jesus reminded these “scholars” that Abraham literally would be dancing in front of them as Jesus was the completion of the covenant between Adonai and Abraham.
Jesus is truth, and He is freedom from the bonds of Sin and death. They were accusing Jesus of living a lie and being a demon, when their very words were indictments against the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God. Jesus could say nothing else; He is GOD! We can almost feel His frustration! God was watching these men push so hard against what they had been looking for their entire lives.
EGO EIMI, that was the truth! If they could catch the vision that John caught, these religious leaders would have experienced true freedom in the midst of their bondage to Rome, to tradition, to the law and to their self-righteous pride and sin. What is more, they could have been true spiritual leaders to the many that looked to them for guidance in living their daily lives.
Sadly, it was simply not meant to be. Rather than grasping for the gift that was there before them, the religious leaders reached down and picked up stones to kill Emmanuel. It, of course, was not the right time yet; so again, they failed. Jesus said it. He IS GOD, not a good teacher, not a mystic healer, not a prophet! He IS the truth and the only truth that could and can set men free!
God Bless You
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b]”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding on to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus’ Claims About Himself
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
Walking With God 