++Some time ago, while preparing a lesson on the Church: The Body Of Christ, I was studying John chapter 13. I happened across verse three which begins, “Jesus knew …”(vs 3) I mean I remembered several instances where a writer would ascribe to Jesus that, “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said,” (Matthew 9:4 MKJV) So It was clear to me that Jesus was given knowledge and insight. Well, I wondered, did that extend to personal knowledge. Did Jesus actually know about Himself? He'd come as a baby, did He maintain memories of His previous existence? There is that verse spoken in the Temple at age twelve, “And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49 NKJV)

So I wanted to find out what Jesus knew of Himself, particularly, His nature and mission? I went looking for specific “I Am” pronouncements Jesus made concerning Himself? What He knew must have been significant for, of all the choices He might have taken, (vs 4)“ … He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. (vs 5)  Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.” He became a servant to all those at table – including Judas who was to betray Him. He washed their feet! His knowledge enabled to accept, without shame or embarrassment, whatever role was necessary.

As I completed reading verse three I also discovered that it wasn’t only what He knew about His nature and mission but it was also Who He knew and trusted implicitly, “Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.” The Father could be trusted to return to the Son anything Jesus entrusted to Him.

But, I still wanted to find out precisely what Jesus testified about Himself. So I conducted a sword drill. I opened the Gospels, Acts and Revelation searching out those instances when Jesus made an “I Am” declaration that was not part of a verb of motion. Honestly I was shocked by what I discovered. I had recalled several such statements but had no idea of the breadth of His self-knowledge and openness of His revelation.

With every research project there is at least one great surprise. This effort yielded such a surprise when I reached John 10:36. (I do not intend this as a theological statement of any sort just a simple side note.) Here Jesus appears to make the claim, “I am Son of God”. Yet, as I read it more closely, it became clear that Jesus was only restating what others reported that He said. And, curiously, as I was in process of searching out other such “I Am” proclamations, I was pretty certain that He never made such an explicit claim. As it turned out “Son of God”, the one name we are most likely to apply to Him, is the one name He never voluntarily claimed. Many hurled it at Him as an accusation and some offered it as testimony. Even Christianity's revered Fish symbol, meaning Jesus Christ, Savior, God's Son, claims it. But only once did He explicitly affirm this status, and then only in response to the High Priest’s question during Jesus' trial and then it was obliquely stated.(Mark 14:60-64)

My thanks to Ken Palmer and folks at Life Of Christ for the work they put into their Gospel harmony .pdf, posted on their website http://lifeofchrist.com/life/harmony/. It made my sorting so much easier. With this cover post I also include the reference to the table of “I Am” statements I compiled.