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    June 13, 1901

    “I Am” The Signs of the Times, 27, 24.

    E. J. Waggoner

    Jesus was walking on the stormy sea, coming to the aid of His disciples, whom He had seen “toiling I rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them;” “but they, when they saw Him walking on the sea, supposed that it was an apparition, and cried out; for they all saw Him, and were troubled. But He straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Mark 6:48-50, R.V.SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.1

    These were comforting words to the disciples, and they have comforted many disciples since that night on the sea; but the disciples at that time did not derive all the comfort from them they ought, “for their heart was hardened;” and very few of the disciples since that day have seen in the words as they read them all that the Saviour really said.SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.2

    The words rendered, “It is I,” meant far more than a simple assurance that it was their Teacher, a real person, who was coming to them, and not an apparition. They included that, which was certainly reassuring; but if the hearts of the twelve had not been hardened, they would have found not merely relief from their childish fears, but eternal comfort; for the words that Jesus uttered, literally translated, were, “Be of good cheer; I am.”SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.3

    Here we see that Jesus identified Himself with the “I AM” who sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. Exodus 3:14. “I AM THAT I AM.” That expresses infinity of existence,-the One, “who is, and was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Of God alone can it be said that “He is.” That means that He is the Source of all existence; for everything that exists, exists solely in Him. “I Am” is the power that creates and upholds. In Jesus is the name of God, “for in Him were all things created.”SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.4

    The words that Jesus spoke that night on the sea, were used by Him several times, but only once do they appear in our translation, namely, in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I am.” But twice more in the same chapter He declares Himself to be the “I Am,” and points us to the cross as proof of the fact. Thus: “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am.” Verse 18. From John 12:32, 33 we know that the lifting up of Christ is His crucifixion. There is no salvation except by the cross of Christ; and the cross, as we have just seen, is the proof that he is the “I Am,” the Creator; therefore He said, “If ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.5

    “I AM” signifies eternal power,-self-existent, independent power. It is the name of Him who is “from everlasting to everlasting, and who is the dwelling-place of all mankind,-the One in whom “we live, and move, and have our being.” “In His hand are the deep places of the earth; and the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 124:5. So when Jesus said to His disciples, “Be of good cheer, I am,” He really assured them that in Him was the power that made the sea, and that could therefore rule its raging, and that could save them, not only from momentary danger, but from eternal death.SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.6

    In that name, “I Am,” there is everlasting strength. And it is all our hope. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him.” Hebrews 11:6, R.V. To us, as well as to the disciples on the sea, He says, “Be of good cheer; I am.” He is always present, with all power in heaven and on earth. Simply believe that He is, and continue believing, and you have eternal salvation. “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of hell and of death.” How boundless are those words, “I am.”SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.7

    “He that hath ears, let him hear.” “To-day, if we will hear His voice, harden not your hearts,” as did the twelve and thus lose the infinite comfort and strength that lies in the assurance “I am.” When in deep trouble or temptation, fix your mind upon the fact that He is. Listen to His voice saying, “I am,” and let your soul be swallowed up in contemplation of it, and you will be lost to everything else. Trouble will be light as air, and temptation will lose its power. The tempter will flee from you. What can not one endure, who knows not only that Christ is near, but that His presence creates, upholds, and saves! Let Him be to you the “I am,” and you will find that in Him you have everything that is. For “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Let this be your confidence, and soon you will see Him as “He is.” E. J. WAGGONER.SITI June 13, 1901, page 373.8

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