Page 21 - Elohim - Almighty Godhead

JESUS’ CLAIM OF BEING DIVINE

In addition to the list of the twelve declarations Jesus made of Himself prefaced
with the claim of being, I AM, we also find this unique recorded confrontation

He had with the Jewish Pharisees in which He boldly claimed the revered
Old Testament sacred Hebrew name of I AM as being His own:

“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE” “YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM
“I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” REJOICED TO SEE MY DAY,
“I AM THE DOOR...” AND HE SAW IT AND WAS GLAD."
“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD..” THEN THE JEWS SAID TO HIM,
“I AM THE RESURRECTION, THE LIFE..” "YOU ARE NOT YET 50 YEARS OLD,
“I AM THE WAY, TRUTH, LIFE…”
AND HAVE YOU
“I AM THE TRUE VINE…” SEEN ABRAHAM?"
“I AM HE… JESUS SAID TO THEM,
“I AM JESUS OF NAZARETH…” ‘MOST ASSUREDLY,
“I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA…”
“I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST…” I SAY TO YOU,
“I AM THE ROOT, OFFSPRING OF DAVID…” BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS,

I AM.’

THEN THEY TOOK UP STONES
TO THROW AT HIM…”
John 8:56-59

In this account the Pharisees certainly understood what Jesus was claiming for
Himself, for immediately they “took up stones to throw at Him.” The application of
the name I AM to Himself was a bold declaration that He was indeed making
Himself to be deity with the Almighty. Just two chapters later the Jews would again
take up stones against Jesus’ spoken claims of deity along with the Almighty:

“’…I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE.’ THEN THE JEWS TOOK UP STONES AGAIN TO
STONE HIM. JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "MANY GOOD WORKS I HAVE SHOWN YOU

FROM MY FATHER. FOR WHICH OF THOSE WORKS DO YOU STONE ME?“
THE JEWS ANSWERED HIM, SAYING,

"FOR A GOOD WORK WE DO NOT STONE YOU, BUT FOR BLASPHEMY,
AND BECAUSE YOU, BEING A MAN, MAKE YOURSELF GOD.“ John 10:30-33

The question we must ask is whether we want to be guided by handed-down, man-
made tradition or will we get our direction solely from biblical truth expressed in His
Word? Consider this article based solely on cherished tradition rather than the stated
revelation found in the Word of God. Notice how the article opens:

“JEWISH TRADITION discusses seven especially holy names of G-d that
cannot be erased and must be written with special concentration.
Due to the holiness of these names, we restrict their use to prayer only.
Outside of a liturgical context, we may read those names as simply Hashem—
meaning "the name." Or we substitute certain sounds to alter the pronunciation
of a name, such as replacing the 'h' with a 'k' in names of G-d such as 'kel' and
'elokim'. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/817362/jewish/The-Kabbalah-of-Divine-Names.htm

What? ?

We should purposely misspell words of sacred scripture?
We should purposely mispronounce words by changing certain letters

lest we become in danger of breaking the 3rd commandment,
“do not take the Name of the Lord in vain”?

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