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So, Who did Jesus say he is?

 
We all have a name.  It is part of our identification.  "A name expresses a person's essence and identity and the meaning of this person's life."(CCC 203) Our names symbolize in word who we are.  In the Native American culture, your name symbolizes the Spirit of Creation within you that strengthens you.  In some cultures, your name identified your trade or place of living.  Your Christian name has a rooted meaning as well.  God has known you by name since the beginning of time.  He has written your name in the palm of His hand.

Do you know the meaning of your name?

God, too, has a name.  In Hebrew, this name is YHVH, meaning I AM WHO IS or I Am Who Am.  God gives his name to Moses in Exodus 3:14.    The Jewish sages note that the four letters of the mose sacred name of all names are used to form the phrase  ,  hayah hoveh yi'yeh, "He was, He is, He will be."

God's name is powerful.  In this name, God is all that is, all that ever was, and all that ever will be.  God's name is all-powerful, all-knowing, always.  God is the Great I AM. The name of God in the Jewish tradition is never spoken nor written.  The few high feasts that the name YHVH is said, all kneel.

This is what God's name looks like in Hebrew.

God became man because of his great desire to be with us completely. Jesus was, is and always will be the completeness of  God as human and divine. His name is Yeshua.
This is how the name "Jesus" would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. 

The four letters or consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y,SH,OO,A). Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means "The Lord is Salvation".  Jesus reminds us in Scripture that Salvation comes through Him.  His name reveals that God came to save mankind. Jesus is the Great I AM and his name is raised high.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (http://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/jesus-in-hebrew.html)
 

John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;"

John 8:23: And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

John 10:9: "I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
 
COMMENT ACTIVITY:  Who is Jesus to you?  From the "I AM"  statements above that Jesus used, or from your own personal faith experiences with Jesus, describe who Jesus is for you.