Jesussaiduntothem,Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,BeforeAbrahamwas,Iam.John8:58. Kindlyexplainthisverse.

Answer:
Thistextisveryeasilyexplained.IamisGod'sname(Exodus3:14,15)andChristwassimply claimingthenameofHisFatherforitisHisbyinheritance. ThisidentifiedHimasthedivineSonoftheLivingGod. Beingmadesomuchbetterthantheangels,ashehathbyinheritanceobtainedamoreexcellent namethanthey.Hebrews1:4 Behold,IsendanAngelbeforethee,tokeeptheeintheway,andtobringtheeintotheplacewhich Ihaveprepared.Bewareofhim,andobeyhisvoice,provokehimnot;forhewillnotpardonyour transgressions:formynameisinhim.Exodus23:20,21 TheseversesplainlyteachthatChristinheritedthenameoftheFather.Thisinheritancetookplace whenHewasbroughtforthbeforeallcreation(notatBethlehem).Itiscertainlytruethatitwas ChristwhospoketoMosesfromtheburningbushanditwasChristwhospoketoAbraham,Isaac, andJacob.ItisalsotruethatChristwasthedirectcommunicationbetweenGodandthefathers.He istheWordofGod,thecommunicationofGodtoman.HiswordsareaconfirmationthatHis FatheristheGodofAbraham,IsaacandJacob. Acts3:13TheGodofAbraham,andofIsaac,andofJacob,theGodofourfathers,hathglorified hisSonJesus;whomyedeliveredup,anddeniedhiminthepresenceofPilate,whenhewas determinedtolethimgo. SpiritofProphecy: Thefollowinginspiredstatementclarifiesthispoint.NoticewhoiscalledthegreatIAMinthese passages. GodwasinChrist,reconcilingtheworlduntohimself,notimputingtheirtrespassesuntothem; andhathcommitteduntousthewordofreconciliation.2Cor.5:19.Allthroughthepagesofsacred history,wherethedealingsofGodwithHischosenpeoplearerecorded,thereareburningtracesof thegreatIAM....Inalltheserevelationsofthedivinepresence,thegloryofGodwasmanifested throughChrist.NotaloneattheSaviour'sadvent,butthroughalltheagesafterthefallandthe promiseofredemption,"GodwasinChrist,reconcilingtheworlduntohimself."Christwasthe foundationandcenterofthesacrificialsysteminboththepatriarchalandtheJewishage.Sincethe sinofourfirstparents,therehasbeennodirectcommunicationbetweenGodandman.TheFather hasgiventheworldintothehandsofChrist,thatthroughHismediatorialworkHemayredeem man,andvindicatetheauthorityandholinessofthelawofGod.Allthecommunionbetween heavenandthefallenracehasbeenthroughChrist.ItwastheSonofGodthatgavetoourfirst parentsthepromiseofredemption.ItwasHewhorevealedHimselftothepatriarchs.Adam,Noah, Abraham,Isaac,Jacob,andMosesunderstoodthegospel.Theylookedforsalvationthroughman's SubstituteandSurety....{TMK102.2} Asyoucansee,GodtheFatheristhegreatIAM,itisHisname.Sincesintherehasbeennodirect communicationbetweenGodandman.EverythinghastogothroughChrist,themediatorofthe

world. ThatiswhyJesusistheGreatIAMtous: InChristJesusisarevelationofthegloryoftheGodhead.Allthatthehumanagentcanknowof Godtothesavingofthesoul,isthemeasureoftheknowledgeofthetruthasitisinJesus,towhich hecanattain;forChristishewhorepresentstheFather.Themostwonderfultruthtobegraspedby menisthetruth,"Immanuel,Godwithus."ChrististhewisdomofGod.Heisthegreat"IAM"to theworld.{ST,December12,1895par.5} Letusallowtheprophettocommentonthismuchmisunderstoodverse(John8:58):Withsolemn dignityJesusanswered,"Verily,verily,Isayuntoyou,BeforeAbrahamwas,IAM."Silencefell uponthevastassembly.ThenameofGod,giventoMosestoexpresstheideaoftheeternal presence,hadbeenclaimedasHisownbythisGalileanRabbi.HehadannouncedHimselftobethe selfexistentOne,HewhohadbeenpromisedtoIsrael,"whosegoingsforthhavebeenfromofold, fromthedaysofeternity."Micah5:2,margin.AgainthepriestsandrabbiscriedoutagainstJesusas ablasphemer.HisclaimtobeonewithGodhadbeforestirredthemtotakeHislife,andafew monthslatertheyplainlydeclared,"ForagoodworkwestoneTheenot;butforblasphemy;and becausethatThou,beingaman,makestThyselfGod."John10:33.BecauseHewas,andavowed Himselftobe,theSonofGod,theywerebentondestroyingHim.{EGW,DA469,470} Micah5:2isaprophecyabouttheSonofGod,theKingofIsraelwhosegoingsforth(origin)is fromthedaysofeternity(everlasting).ByclaimingthenameofGod,Jesuswasclaimingtobethe promisedMessiah,theSonofthemostHighGod.TheJewsunderstoodthat.