The Turkish "I AM"

Antakya, Turkey—A BackLook at Antioch

Believers were first called “Christians” in Antioch. (Acts 11:26) It was the location of the first Gentile church. Historically, this city in present day Turkey was a safe haven for those of the church fleeing persecution within the Roman Empire. Jewish believers from Jerusalem went to Antioch, mixing with Gentile Christians.

The church in Antioch grew and Barnabas was sent to investigate. (Acts 11:23) The believers in Antioch were an unusual mixture of people: former pagans who were new converts, Jews who believed Jesus was their Messiah, and Gentiles devoted to Judaism who had completely converted. (Bible Ref)

These differences could cause schism, but Barnabas told them all to be faithful to the Lord.

The church across the globe today is like the church of Antioch. It is Orthodox, Oriental, from the East, Catholic, Protestant and many other denominations, yet they must all be faithful to the Lord who is the Head of the church.

In the Church of Antioch, a potential conflict arose regarding the differences between believers of Jewish background and those from the Gentile world.

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, 'Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us..’” (Acts 15:7-8)

All believers in Jesus the Savior are given the Holy Spirit. They are sealed as the Lord’s and are each a necessary part of the body of Christ.

Antioch was also a missionary springboard (Paul, Barnabas, and others) for their good news journeys. (47-55 AD) As a result, many churches were founded in Turkey: Colossae, Laodicea, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Tarsus, Cappadocia, Constantinople, among others.

Many of the books of the New Testament were letters written to these churches. Some scholars believe the Gospel of Matthew may have been written in Antioch. (BLB)

The first Seven Ecumenical Councils of the church were held in Turkey. They defined Christianity.

Because Peter and Paul had founded the church in Antioch, the location became one of five important patriarchal city-centers among Christians. By 270 AD, the School of Antioch opened as a place of Christian learning. The church fathers were “influential in theology and ecclesiastical politics.” (Britannica)

Turkey, especially the region called Anatolia, was an area of widespread Christianity. The church there had strength. (Turkish Studies)

At one point, the Holy Spirit warned through a man of Antioch named Agabus, that famine was coming across the Roman Empire.

“One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.” (Acts 11:28-30)

God warns His people. God prepares His people. God uses His church to help other parts of the body. Though many believers had left Jerusalem because of persecution, some Christians remained behind as a witness of Christ.

This is the same today. Persecution has driven many believers from the Middle East to the West for safety, while others have remained on their lands for 2,ooo years as a witness for Jesus.

It is the duty of believers in the West to help the church body in Turkey and the Middle East where few who know the Lord remain.

A part of the Roman Empire, Antioch was the third largest city after Rome and Alexandria. Its location was a crossroads for Italy, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt and the East. Caravans traveled to and through Antioch from the East with trade goods. The city flourished with between 100,000-300,000 people.

God uses major city centers of diverse peoples and languages to spread the Gospel.

After enduring a major fire and earthquakes (525-528 AD), Antioch then fell to the Persians, was taken back by the Byzantines (the Eastern Roman Empire), and later became a part of the Arab Caliphate (Islam) in 737 AD.

In 969 AD, the Byzantines reconquered the shrinking metropolis, but lost it to the Seljuk Turks (Islam) in 1084 AD. The Crusaders reclaimed Antioch in 1098 AD. The Mamluks (Islam) completely destroyed what was left in 1268 AD.

From 1517, the city remained a part of the Ottoman Empire (Islam), until its end (at the conclusion of World War 1). Afterward, the French mandated that Antioch become a part of Syria.

In 1939, Antioch was returned to Turkey (Islam), the former Ottoman Empire.

Although Antioch fluctuated between wars over strategic landscape, it also bounced back and forth between Christian and Islamic ownership.

What happened to Antioch’s large Christian community?

It endured natural disasters, regime changes, and persecution. In modern days, genocide specifically against Christian minorities by Turkish government. “Between 1.5 million and 2.5 million people died as a result of the genocide.” (The Thirty Year Genocide, Alex Bellamy, International Affairs, Volume 96, Issue 1, Jan 2020, Pages 247–249, Oxford Academic)

Islam is not a friend of Christians who live within the same nation’s borders. Christians are seen as those aligned with the West or as enemies of Islam. There is nothing new. It is the same situation today in many Islamic countries.

During the thirty year genocide of Christian minorities within Turkey, few helped. This was wrong. The church in the West must help the church in the East.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:

“But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another. And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.” (1Corinthinans 12:24-26)

Schisms arose in Antioch. Divisions came. The church became the Oriental Church, the Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox. (CNEWA, Sister Jean David)

Three major branches are still worshiping separately, yet, they are bound by the same faith and the same blood—that of Jesus’, and are filled with the same Holy Spirit.

Today there are approximately only 180,854 Christians in Turkey. (AA) This is about the size of the population of ancient Antioch. These people are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church, now scattered across the country.

The early church in Turkey spoke Koine Greek. It is still used in Greek Orthodox churches today. They also spoke Aramaic—the language of the Lord from the cross—which is utilized in Syriac churches of Turkey today. Presently, Christians in Turkey also speak the common language of Turkish.

Today’s world is small. It is connected. So can the church be connected as one body today. This is the will of the Lord, who prayed for unity of His people while sweating great drops of blood for His own, in the Garden of Gethsemane. (John 17)

To honor the Lord and the witness of the Turkish church for Jesus among the Romans, Arabs and Turks for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Turkish, İsa, ‹‹Benim›› meaning, Jesus said, “It is I” into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the prayer of Jesus in Turkish:

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More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Kurdish "I AM"

The Medes descended from an ancient kingdom. Jews were resettled in their cities by the Babylonians at one time. (2Kings 17:6) It became linked to Persia and is known as such within the Old Testament. Today, Medes is a part of modern day Iran (Persia).

According to the Greek historian, Herodotus, the Medes were originally six tribes, one of which was called the “Magi,” The Magi were a tribe of Zoroastrian priests. The position as priest was hereditary and they were allowed to serve in Media as well as Persia. The Magi priests were present in royal courts since the time of Darius I.

The Scriptures state that Magi came to see the Baby Jesus:

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him. (Matthew 2:1-2)

When the Magi returned to their country, they would have taken the knowledge of the King with them—to Persia and Medes.

At Pentecost, those from Medes were present in Jerusalem:

“Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia..’”(Acts 2:5-9)

The Apostle Andrew, the brother of Peter, took the Gospel to the people of Media.

Before the Medes lived in this geographic area, the Kurds were already settled there. The Apostle Andrew went to the Kurds.

By 651 AD, Media belonged to the Sassanid Empire, under which Christianity maintained a presence. Then the Sassanids, that is the Persian empire, fell to Islam, which came out of Arabia.

“At the time of the advent of Islam in the 7th century, central Kurdistan was predominantly Christian.” (Christianity, Kurdistanica)

“Since the Islamic conquest of Kurdistan, Christian Kurds isolated from the Muslim majority then developed better relations with non-Kurdish Christians such as Armenians, Georgians and Arameans.” (Kurdish People Org.)

To preserve themselves, many Kurdish believers became a part of the Church of the East. (Mark Sykes, “The Kurdish Tribes of the Ottoman Empire,” p. 453, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 1908.)

The Lord prayed about the need for church unity while in the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before his arrest.

“The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me.” (John 17:22-23)

A united church was necessary for physical and spiritual preservation. It is the goal of the Lord. His words are eternal. He is the same yesterday and today.

As Jesus was getting ready to go to His death and suffering, He thought of His people, even the church today. How important unity is.

Because 1400 years ago Kurdish Christians joined themselves with other believers, even those from other ethnic backgrounds, they have survived. Yes, they were pushed into other regions to live. Yes, they had to adopt a new church language. Yes, they had to adapt to different ways of doing things within the worship. But, they have survived.

It is vitally important that the church today—every major branch, commit itself to the unity of the Lord, and with one another, rallying together around the Gospel of Jesus.

The Kurds today are a stateless people, residing predominantly in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. The Kurdish language is related to the Persian tongue, both of which are Indo-European. Some Kurds are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church.

Kurdish was an early church language.

Kurdish is written in both the Latin and the Arabic scripts. The Kurdish Christians have adopted the local tongue of Jesus—Aramaic, because it is the church language of many Middle Eastern believers. (The Kurdish Project)

Remnants of these early church believers yet remain. There is the Bazyan Church, dated to 248-226 BC, during the Sassanid Empire. It was built by Syriac-speaking Christians. Today it is located in Northern Iraq where Kurdish is spoken.

Kurdish Christians number at about 500,000.

To honor the Lord and the witness of Jesus among the Kurds for 2,000 years, I have embroidered in Sorani Kurdish, “I’m Him” into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the story of Jesus in Kurdish (Sorani):

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Farsi "I AM"

The Bible refers to modern day Iran as Persia, and its language of Farsi as Persian. Its people are mentioned in the Old Testament books of Esther, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Isaiah and Daniel.

Cyrus, King of Persia, was used by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 36:22-23)

The roots of the Gospel in Iran run deep as well. A country plagued by persecution against believers in Jesus, the church has been in the land since the beginning.

When the Christ child was born in Bethlehem, Magi came from the East to worship Him. (Matthew 2:1) “Magi,” an Indo-Germanic word, from which the Farsi language descends, refers to Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes, Persians. The Magi returned to the East, home, as witnesses to the birth of the Savior.

From the cross, Jesus spoke: “Today you shall be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) “Paradise” is a Persian word. (STRONGS G3857)

At Pentecost, those who heard the Gospel in their own language included Parthians, Medes and Elamites—all from Persia. (Acts 2:9)

Knowledge of the Gospel returned with these individuals to Persia.

After Pentecost, the Apostle Thomas took the Good News to Persia, where he established churches.

The common language of the church in the East was Syriac, which is a dialect of Aramaic. It was used to unite the church in Persia. The Gospel was taken further along the Silk Road by the Persian church into countries farther east—China, India and Korea.

By 781 AD, a marker was erected by believers in China, recognizing Syriac Christianity. (Li Tang, PhD., University of Salzburg)

The Persian Gospel was a translation from Syriac. A very few other Persian Gospels were directly translated from the Greek to Persian.

During the time of the early church, the Roman Empire in the West was declared Christian by its leader Constantine the Great.

Shapur II ruled the Persian Empire from 309-379 AD. A proponent of Zoroastrianism, he persecuted Christians, whom he believed were aligned with the Christian Roman Empire under Constantine the Great. Churches were destroyed and clergy executed. Lay people also were martyred. It is thought that 16,000 died as martyrs because they would not renounce the Lord.

In 403 AD, God raised an advocate for the Persian believers—Saint Maruthas, a Syriac monk. He began by pleading for help for them from the Roman Emperor Arcadius. Later he was sent by Emperor Theodosius the Younger to negotiate peace between the Roman and Persian Empires.

An effective ambassador, Maruthas also spoke to King Yazdegerd I of Persia about freedom for Christians within his kingdom.

A true believer, sent by God, can help bring about peace between empires because his Savior is called the Prince of Peace.

Maruthas encouraged churches be rebuilt and a council meeting of Christians for purposes of church organization be held.

By 410 AD, the capital of Persia was Ctesiphon; it had become the “center for Christianity in the empire.” (Iranicaonline.org) The Council of Mar Isaac was held at the direction of King Yazdegerd I, who was good to both Jewish and Christian subjects, for the purpose of organizing Christians of the Sassanid Empire into one church. Thus, the Church of the East was established as the national church of the Sassanid Empire.

The Church of the East carried the Gospel to other places, translating it into the local language. Thus the church grew. Early church languages became numerous. Approximately 68% of the empire was reached and evangelized. (Buck, Christopher. (1996). The Universality of the Church of the East: How Persian was Persian Christianity?. Journal of the Assyrian Academic Society. 10. 54–95..)

Farsi is an early church language.

God used empires, the Roman, the Greek, the Sassanid (Persian) to spread the Gospel around the world. He still does.

In the 7th Century, the Sassanid Empire fell to Islam. The Arabic alphabet became the standard for the written word, replacing the Persian cuneiform. This continues today.

At first, Christians were protected, but then tensions grew. Persecution rose again. By the 14th Century, under the Muslim warlord Tamerlane, many many Christians were martyred. Religious cleansing has occurred.

Iran remains a part of the Islamic world, yet the church still exists there. It is small, less than 300,000. It is against the law to preach the Gospel in Farsi.

Language matters. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Nothing has changed in Persia. When an enemy of God is in power, believers can be persecuted.

Christians in Iran are seen as those aligned with the West; therefore, they are persecuted. (Open Doors) As it was in the past, so it is today. There is nothing new under the sun.

However, Jesus and His Gospel will not be stopped. He is appearing to individuals in Iran and speaking to them in their own language—Farsi. (CBN)

There is no end to the Kingdom of the Lord. (Luke 1:33)

Advocates for peace must be raised up by God, as Maruthas was. These individuals must also plead for the well-being of Christians in nations hostile to believers. God can put individuals in place who will offer relief to believers, just as Cyrus and King Yazdegerd I were used by Him.

It is important that the church in the West remember and help the church in the East. The church is one body with Christ as its Head.

To honor the Lord and the witness of Jesus in Persia for 2,000 years by the Church of the East, I have embroidered in Farsi, “I AM” من هستم , into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the story of Jesus in Farsi:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The English "I AM"

In 1382, English scholar and priest, John Wycliffe published a Bible in English, translated from Latin. His purpose was to take the truths of the Gospel to the people.

In 1415, Wycliffe’s remains were dug up and burned, the ashes thrown into the River Swift. He had been declared a heretic.

The first English Scriptures translated directly from the Old Testament’s Hebrew and the New Testament’s Greek were done so by linguist William Tyndale between 1522-1535. He had been influenced by the work of Martin Luther’s German New Testament.

“It came into his heart that the thing to do in life was to translate the scripture into the common language of the people.” (Dr. Timothy George at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, 2009)

The translation was a direct challenge to the Roman Catholic Church. His English Scripture translations were banned in England by Catholic authorities. Tyndale was later declared guilty of heresy, strangled and burned at the stake. Just prior to his death, witnesses heard Tyndale pray, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” (Houston Christian University)

God answered the prayer. The King of England allowed the English Scriptures into his country’s churches. In 1611, the King James Bible was printed in his royal name.

Government leadership that promotes the Gospel does its people a great service.

The King hired on 47 translators who consulted various sources, including Tyndale’s. A large portion, up to 90% of his work was incorporated. The King James Bible remained the standard for more than 200 years and is still widely used.

God puts into the hearts of key people, a love for the Gospel, causing them to translate the Scriptures for the majority. People must have and know the Scriptures. Knowledge of the Lord, the Word himself, is within them, recorded since the beginning, and instructing the church about what will come.

The printing press had been invented and believers took the Gospels with them to remote areas of the world. (Dr. Philip Jenkins, Baylor University, 2011) The majority were those of Protestant denominations.

In the Colonies, the King James Bible was the most widely used version of the Scriptures. Since colonial days until 1963, Bible reading in United States public schools. During this time volatile disputes about which version of the Bible should be read occurred between Protestants and Catholics. (Pew Research Center, 2019) This disagreement was approximately 400 years old, existing between two branches of the church which call Jesus Christ the Lord.

The result was a court case, Abington Township v. Schempp (1963). The United States Supreme Court struck down compulsory Bible reading as unconstitutional.

When the honor of God is removed, evil enters.

The King James Bible puts it this way: “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.” (1 Samuel 16:14)

The Virginia Law Review ( Mark Storslee, 2024) states that at the time the Schempp court case was decided, “More than half of Americans disapproved” of its resolution.

It is yet a controversial, but necessary subject that students and parents contend with.

A few states—Oklahoma, Idaho and Texas, are working toward reintroducing the King James Bible or Bible stories into their curriculums. (Ryan Suppe, Idaho News, 2024)

Historically, believers fought against believers about what their children would hear being read from the Word of God in the U.S. classroom. The result has been that nothing Scriptural reaches the ears of children while at school.

Forgiveness must be made. Apologies must be given on both sides, Protestant and Catholic.

Church leadership must settle this issue themselves, outside a court of law. The Apostle Paul spoke on this subject:

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust: and not before the saints? Know you not that the saints shall judge this world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things of this world?

“If therefore you have judgments of things pertaining to this world, set them to judge who are the most despised in the church.

“I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not among you any one wise man, that is able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers.” (1Corinthians 6:1-6 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition)

This ancient dispute began within church leadership and they themselves must end it. The people follow church leadership.

The Word of God is for the children too. Jesus said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:16)

Protestants and Catholics must rally around the four Gospels, around Jesus, where there is agreement in who is Lord. There should be no division within the United States between those who are true believers.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35 KJV) Unity in Jesus is a witness to the world. It is safety for the children.

Jesus speaks “I AM” to both Catholics and Protestants.

To honor the Lord and the Christian Church in the United States and Britain, “I AM” from John 18:5 has been embroidered into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Ge'ez "I AM"

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Apostle Philip was directed by the Holy Spirit to go to the Gaza road. There he found an important Ethiopian eunuch from the court of Queen Candace. He had been to Jerusalem to worship. Philip found him sitting in his chariot reading the scroll of Isaiah. Sent by the Holy Spirit, Philip approached the eunuch, then explained to him the Scripture and told him about Jesus. Shortly afterward, Philip baptized the Ethiopian. (Acts 8:25-39)

The Ethiopian church began with this one man.

In about 316 A.D., two Phoenician boys from Tyre, Lebanon, were captured while in a Red Sea port while traveling with their Christian uncle. The brother named Frumentius became the tutor to the Ethiopian king’s son, Ezana. Frumentius led the royal heir to the Lord.

Christian teachers are good for children.

Frumentius was later appointed head of the Ethiopian church in the Kingdom of Aksum, present day Ethiopia and Eritrea.

During the fourth century A.D., King Ezana made the Kingdom of Aksum, Ethiopia and Eritrea, a Christian nation.

Christian heads of state are excellent leadership for their own people.

By the fifth century A.D., the Bible began to be translated from Greek into Ge’ez, the common language of Aksum, (Ethiopia and Eritrea). Today Amharic is spoken in Ethiopia, whereas, Tigrinya is the language of Eritrea, but Ge’ez continues as the liturgical language of both the Ethiopian church and the Eritrean church.

The Garima Gospels are the world’s oldest complete illuminated Biblical manuscript of the four Gospels. They are written in the Ge’ez language. Traditionally, the Scriptures have been held at the Abba Garima Monastery in Ethiopia, close to the border of Eritrea. Recently, because of a power struggle between the countries, the Gospels have been removed and hidden in another undisclosed location.

Ge’ez was an early church language. Today, it is a holy language.

Today, the Ethiopian Oriental Orthodox Church has approximating 36 million members residing in Ethiopia. With other Christian denominations, they constitute 67.3% of the population.

In Eritrea, the number of Christians from varying denominations is 47-63%.

The believers of these two countries are one people, from one language, one faith, and one Lord. They are physical and spiritual descendants of the early church. Together, they are a significant part of the body of Christ which has kept the Ge’ez language of the early church.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, while the Lord sweated blood, he prayed:

“I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.” (John 17:11)

Belief in Jesus and the Scriptures unites nations, the church, and the family.

There should be no division in the church between Ethiopia and Eritrea—they are brothers, and part of the Kingdom of God.

To honor the Lord and the Christian Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea, “Jesus” in the Ge’ez language has been embroidered into this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the “Lord’s Prayer” being sung in the Ge’ez language:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Coptic "I AM"

After Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, King Herod of Jerusalem sought to kill him. Joseph, the husband of Mary, received a dream, warning him to take his family to Egypt. They left in the night. There they remained until hearing from God that it was safe to return. The Old Testament prophecy of Hosea was fulfilled. (Matthew 2) “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1)

God did not forget Egypt; instead, he blessed the nation.

In 61 A.D., Mark, an apostle of the Christian church, took the Gospel to Egypt, where he founded the church in Alexandria. The city became an important Christian center, second only to the Latin Rome.

The first Christian religious institution, the Catechetical School of Alexandria, opened in 106 A.D.; it produced and influenced many early church fathers.

At that time, Egypt was a province of Rome. Latin was the language of government and the military. Greek was the language of commerce and trade. The local tongue was Coptic—a form of Ancient Egyptian.

The Bible began to be translated from Koine Greek into Coptic around 180 A.D.

The Coptic alphabet descends from Greek, as was used in the Gospels, with influences from the Ancient Egyptian script. The purpose of the translation was to take the Gospel to the people of Egypt.

Coptic was an early church language. It continues to be used today by the Coptic Church globally and is now a holy language for liturgical use.

In 451 A.D. the Council of Chalcedon, a meeting of bishops and other heads of the church in Turkey. The result was a major schism within the Christian church, separating the Oriental Orthodox Church (Coptic) from the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Oriental Orthodox Church (Coptic) was not just separated from the world church, but also from the Byzantine Empire, which was Christian.

The divisions weakened the church, allowing for attacks by an outside power —the Persians.

Christian Egyptians themselves became divided between those who agreed with Chalcedon rulings and those who did not, the majority being in the latter camp. Rome took Egypt back under treaty and installed a pro-Chalcedon ruler.

The Coptic Orthodox Church went underground. Persecution from fellow believers who held to Chalcedon arose.

Church unity cannot be found through force.

These events weakened the Christian church in Egypt further. Islam invaded.

Egyptian Christians, be they Orthodox, Catholic or Eastern, are all believers in Jesus, the Son of God, who died, rose again and will return. They are all brothers and sisters of the same body. Forgiveness must be given for sins of the ancient past. A new unity must be forged.

All Egyptian Christians are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church in Alexandria. They are one people.

The Coptic Church prays for unity of Christians.

Those who believe in Jesus are members of his church; they are necessary parts of the body of Christ. Only one condition is necessary: “Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

Unity of the church demonstrates love and is a witness to the world.

Jesus stated, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Divisions and schisms in the church must be rectified and healed with the blood of Jesus. A united house will stand, a divided one continues to fall. (Matthew 12:25)

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

May the altar in Egypt remain until the Lord’s return. (Isaiah 19:19)

To honor the Lord and the early and modern Coptic speaking church in Egypt, “I AM” in Coptic from John 18:5 has been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in the original Coptic:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Arabic "I AM"

Arabic speaking peoples were among the earliest members of the church. The Apostle Paul went to Arabia to study the Scriptures for a time, taking with him the knowledge of Christ. (Galatians 1:15-17) The Apostle Thaddeus took the Gospel to Arabia on a missionary journey. At Pentecost, Arabic speakers heard Peter preach the Gospel in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:11)

The early Christian church spoke, read and wrote Arabic.

In the 19th century, a Christian Paleo Arabic inscription was located in Zabad, Syria, dating to 512 A.D., engraved beside Greek and Syriac at the Church of St. Sergius.

Approximately, 300 years before the Christ Child’s arrival in Bethlehem, the Nabataean Kingdom existed in present-day Jordan, the Sinai Peninsula, southeastern Syria, and northwestern Saudi Arabia. By the time of Apostle Paul, their King Aretas had extended his reach to Damascus. (2Corinthians 11:32)

By the 4th century, the Nabateans, an ancient Arab race, were being Christianized. They built churches in their city of Petra.

The Nabatean culture developed Arabic from Aramaic which they used for commerce and trade. The cursive version became Arabic script by the third century. Aramaic features were incorporated into the new writing system.

Jesus spoke Aramaic. It was an early church language.

Other Christian Arab tribes included: the Sahilids (modern Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia), the Tanukhids (modern Southern Syria, Northern Arabia), the Ibad (Arabian tribes settled in Al-Hira, Iraq), and the Ghassanids (an Arabian tribe which migrated to the Levant).

The Ghassanids intermarried with the existing Christians of the Holy Land, those of Hebrew, Samaritan and Aramean descent. They continue to speak Arabic today.

Arabic is an early church language.

Modern Christians of the Middle East are the spiritual and physical descendants of the early church. They have kept the early church language of Arabic for 2,000 years. They have also kept the numerous holy places where Jesus walked, taught, lived, died and rose from the dead.

No matter the lines drawn by world powers, these people are one people.

In the words of the Lord, “I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

The Lord prayed for unity of his church 2,000 years ago. His prayer is yet valid today. A united church is a witness to the world of the truth of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

The mind is renewed through—the Scriptures. They speak truth. The Word states that God desires the unity of his church. It is his will.

The world speaks “division;” God speaks “unity” in Jesus. There is only one Lord. (Ephesians 4:5)

To honor the Lord and the early and present Arabic speaking church in the Holy Land, “I AM” from John 18:5 has been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Hebrew "I AM"

The early Christian church in Jerusalem was primarily Jewish. They studied and knew the Hebrew Scriptures. When persecution by Saul and those aligned with him came against the Christian Jews, the church fled.

Acts 8:1 states, “And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Acts 8:4) The Apostle Philip, one of the 12 disciples, went to the city of Samaria proclaiming Christ.

The Samaritans, a mixed people of Israelite descent, also knew the first five books of the Old Testament—-the Pentateuch. They too had been looking for the Messiah. God had not forgotten them.

Jesus himself passed through Samaria; he spoke with a woman who acknowledged this fact: “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” (John 4:25-26) Believers in Jesus existed in Samaria prior to Philip’s arrival.

The Jewish early church went out of Jerusalem and became mixed with local populations wherever they settled, including with the Samaritans.

Members of the early church were the spiritual and physical descendants of the Israelites. Abraham was promised this by God.

Paul explained this in a letter: “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Therefore, recognize that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations will be blessed in you.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” (Galatians 3:6-9)

The church is a kingdom of priests, made so by its king—Jesus. (Revelation 1:6) The bloodline is pure, no matter if one is of Jewish descent or Gentile descent—each has been released from his sins by the Savior’s blood. (Revelation 1:5)

The human bloodline no longer matters. It is only the blood of Jesus that is of concern. Paul wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek.” (Galatians 3:28)

Paul began as Saul, the persecutor of the early church, only to become a key figure used by God to bring both Jew and Gentile into the one faith.

It is the early church which traveled with Jesus and learned all that they could from the Lord before his execution and resurrection. They read and understood the Old Testament Scriptures and were able to pass their knowledge and understanding on to other believers. The early church recorded what they heard and saw for the descendants of Abraham to believe.

Even Mary, a member of the early church, carried the Christ child into the world that all who believe might be saved.

To honor the Lord and the early Hebrew speaking church in the Holy Land, “I AM” from John 18:5 has been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Russian "I AM"

Russians believe that the Apostle Andrew, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, came through their nation in 55 A.D. He carried with him the good news of the existence of Jesus.

In 988 A.D., Vladimir the Great installed Christianity as the state religion after leaving paganism for Christ. Idolatry was abolished and Byzantine missionaries were allowed in. The Slav tribes were uniting as the Kievan Rus—a federation of Christian states, now known as Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus.

Christians in the highest levels of government are good for a nation. This is biblical:

“Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people.” (2Chronicles 23:16)

Vladimir had been influenced for Christ by his grandmother, Olga of Kiev, who was first baptized in about 955 A.D. She began the building of churches in the region.

Believing grandparents make a spiritual difference in the lives of their grandchildren. (2Timothy 1:5)

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one early church. They are one people in Christ.

The Kiev Rus first received Scriptures translated from the Koine Greek and written in Glagolitic script, which was developed by two devout believers in 862 A.D. for the purpose of bringing the Slavic peoples the written Word of God. “Glagolitic” means “utterance” or “word.”

Glagolitic script was the precursor of the Cyrillic alphabet, named for Cyril, one of the two believers. Many of Cyrillic’s letters are rooted in the foundational languages of the Scriptures, coming from Hebrew and Greek. A few are Aramaic.

Jesus is a part of every word of Scripture, even the very letters. Three times he stated, “I AM the Alpha and the Omega.” (Revelation 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Written language is extremely important to the Lord. Its fundamental purpose is for the spreading of the Gospel, as seen historically in Russia.

Cyrillic was used to unite the Russian people to the faith in Jesus.

Cyrillic is the alphabet for 50 different languages. God has used two men to reach generations of believers across Eastern Europe and into Asia.

The Cyrillic alphabet is now used in the Church in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The Gospel is the foundation of literacy and culture throughout Eastern Europe and into Russia.

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one holy Scripture and one early church. They are one people in Christ.

In 1054, the Great Schism occurred, dividing the Catholic Church in Rome from the Orthodox Church in the East. Though all believed in Jesus the Christ and though all were descendants of the early church, receiving the Scriptures from the same original Greek source, the two sides held to political disputes, theological differences and cultural obstacles.

The church has a history of division. Jesus stated, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” (Matthew 12:25)

The Russian Orthodox Church has been historically united to the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople. In 1996, it split. Political differences regarding the Orthodox Church in Estonia were reconciled, and the two reunited.

In 2018, a similar split occurred again between the Russian Orthodox Church and Constantinople. This political difference involved the Ukraine. “Relations soured after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.” (BBC)

The church cannot allow other powers to divide it.

Paul wrote, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Every part of the church is necessary to the other parts.

“For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

These parts are to build the church up to unity in the faith. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The Russian Orthodox Church numbers approximately 112 million globally. Eastern Orthodox members constitute 300 million worldwide. These believers are all united in Christ since they received the Gospel, and should remain so.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

To honor the Lord and the Orthodox Church in Russia, the Russian words “It’s me,” meaning— “I AM” from John 18:5 have been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer, spoken in the beautiful Russian language:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Ukrainian "I AM"

Ukrainians believe that the Apostle Andrew, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, came through their nation in 55 A.D. He carried with him the good news of the existence of Jesus.

In 988 A.D., Vladimir the Great installed Christianity as the state religion after leaving paganism for Christ. Idolatry was abolished and Byzantine missionaries were allowed in. The Slav tribes were uniting as the Kievan Rus—a federation of Christian states, now known as Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus.

Christians in the highest levels of government are good for a nation.

Vladimir had been influenced for Christ by his grandmother, Olga of Kiev, who was first baptized in about 955 A.D. She began the building of churches in the region.

Believing grandparents make a spiritual difference in the lives of their grandchildren.

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one early church. They are one people in Christ.

The Kiev Rus first received Scriptures translated from the Koine Greek and written in Glagolitic script, which was developed by two devout believers in 862 A.D. for the purpose of bringing the Slavic peoples the written Word of God. “Glagolitic” means “utterance” or “word.”

Glagolitic script was the precursor of the Cyrillic alphabet, named for Cyril, one of the two believers. Many of Cyrillic’s letters are rooted in the foundational languages of the Scriptures, coming from Hebrew and Greek. A few are Aramaic.

Cyrillic is the alphabet for 50 different languages. God has used two men to reach generations of believers across Eastern Europe and into Asia.

The Cyrillic alphabet is now used in the Church in the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. The Gospel is the foundation of literacy and culture throughout Eastern Europe and into Asia.

The modern church in Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus are the descendants of one holy Scripture and one early church. They are one people in Christ.

Approximately 41 million Ukrainians are of the Orthodox Church, but are divided by political problems and war, yet they are one people, one body, one language, one faith in Jesus Christ.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, while the Lord sweated blood, he prayed:

“ I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.” (John 17:11)

Belief in Jesus and the Scriptures unites nations, the church, and the family.

To honor the Lord and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, the Ukrainian words “This is me,” meaning— “I AM” from John 18:5 have been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Listen to the “Lord’s Prayer” being sung in the beautiful Ukrainian language:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Armenian "I AM"

Bartholomew and Jude, two of the 12 apostles of Jesus, went to the land of Armenia with the good news of Jesus and his resurrection. By the year 301 A.D., Armenia declared Christianity its state religion. The first Christian nation was officially born.

How did this happen? Early Armenian Christians were first persecuted by their kings. Then came Gregory the Illuminator. As a child, he was saved from death during a political conflict between his own father and the king of Armenia. Gregory survived after being taken away from Armenia to the Roman Empire by his nurse. There Gregory was raised as a Christian.

As an adult, he returned to Armenia. After enduring torture and prison himself by the king of Armenia, Gregory persuaded him to receive Christ, baptizing him in the Euphrates River.

Gregory, the first head of the Armenian Church, built churches and schools for the study of Syriac and Greek— Scriptural languages.

By 405 A.D., Mesrop Mashtots, who was an Armenian theologian, created an Armenian alphabet for the purpose of translating the Scriptures from Greek into Armenian. This solidified the Christian faith across the nation.

God uses language, both spoken and written, to unify his church, even nations.

During the 5th Century, the Persian Shah used Zoroastrian priests to coerce Armenians into renouncing Jesus and accepting the pagan religion. The Armenian Church held fast to Christ.

The Armenian Church has stood for close to 2000 years and continues to do so, despite persecution even into modern times.

As Jesus is alive, so too has he kept his church alive.

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7)

In 2016, “The Catholic Thing” publication reported that approximately 9 million people are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, while 750,00 belong to the Armenian Uniate Catholic Church.

Listen to liturgical Armenian prayer:

To honor the Lord and the Armenian Church, the Armenian words of the Lord, “It’s me,” from John 18:5 have been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Macedonian "I AM"

Macedonia is a key country in the spread of the message of “I AM,” or the knowledge of who Jesus is. It once was a province of the Roman Empire and borders Greece to the north.

The Apostle Paul, author of much of the New Testament epistles, was a traveling church planter. One night he dreamed of a man waving to him pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul went. (Acts 16:6-10) He landed in Philippi and began telling the good news of Jesus, the message “I AM,” for the first time in Europe.

After leaving, Paul returned twice to visit Philippi, and also wrote the Philippian church a letter just past 60 A.D., which is now part of the New Testament—Philippians.

Paul also traveled to Thessalonika, later penning them a letter too, now know as the Thessalonian epistle.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church has the oldest Christian traditions of any church in Europe. Though there have been movements to drop the title “Macedonian” from the church’s name, their Archbishop Stefan maintains that “Macedonian” will remain.

To honor the Word of God, which includes “Macedonia” as the first entrance of the Gospel to Europe, this church has kept its title.

After the fall of the western portion of the Roman Empire, the eastern half continued as the Byzantine Empire, which included the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

In 862 A.D., two brothers who were also Christian missionaries, Cyril and Methodius, developed the earliest form of the Cyrillic Script to help spread Christianity throughout Eastern Europe among the Slavic-speaking peoples. They translated the Greek Scriptures into the Slavic language and its new alphabet. These two brothers influenced culture and literacy across Eastern Europe. Cyril and Methodius were born in Thessalonika—they were Macedonians.

God uses language, both the spoken and the written, to unite the church and carry forward the message of Jesus, the “I AM.”

The Macedonian tongue is Slavic as well. It incorporates the Cyrillic alphabet, even in its Bible. This alphabet is yet in use in other Slavic languages and in Russian.

Today, there are approximately 260 million Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide. God has used two Macedonian brothers, members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, to influence and create a foundation of Christ throughout Eastern Europe and into Russia which remains to this day.

Listen to Macedonian, the language of early believers:

The Greek "I AM"

(C) “I AM” Embroidery of Koine Greek “I AM,” Kelly Jadon, 2025

At the cross, four languages were recognized: Jesus spoke Aramaic, and a sign posted atop the cross read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. Each language spoke to a different group of people.

Koine Greek was the language of the ordinary workers and peoples throughout the eastern Mediterranean region, including Jewish people living outside of Jerusalem. God used the Koine Greek to unite his church of Jews and Gentiles with a common language. At the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus, Paul preached for two years to both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:9-10) And so, the Gospels and other New Testament books were written down in this mutual tongue; then the books were circulated from church to church.

Common languages were important because they could broadly reach diverse speaking population centers. Greek united the early church. Eventually, the Scriptures were collected together and became known as the “Codex Sinaiticus,” the oldest complete document of the New Testament.

In all, we have approximately 5800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament.

Greek words are used throughout the Bible, including, “Christ,” meaning, “Anointed One.” Also, “Andrew” and “Philip” are Greek names.

Today, the Greek Orthodox Church continues using Koine Greek during its formal liturgy services. This is the language in which the early church would have first heard the Scriptures. They have honored the Lord, who has been declared the King at the cross in Greek.

Above, see the photo from the embroidery of “I AM,” an artwork, declaring that Jesus is the Great I AM in many languages.

Listen to the Lord’s Prayer in the original Greek:

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Latin "I AM"

At the cross, a placard written in three languages (Hebrew, Latin, and Greek) was nailed above the Lord, naming him as “King of the Jews.”

There was a divine reason for the Latin inclusion on the sign placed above the Lord. It read: “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum,” or “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Today, the abbreviation “INRI” is still written above crosses as a reminder.

Latin was the tongue of the immense Roman Empire, which ruled over the Holy Land. It was used in the areas of administration, legislation, and for military matters.

After persecution in Jerusalem, the early church spread westward, even into Rome, where Latin was spoken. By the third century, it was the dominant tongue. In the fourth century, St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin, now known as the Vulgate from the early Koine Greek New Testament. The title, “Vulgate,” is similar to the English word, “vulgar,” referring to Latin as the common language of the people. God’s hand was at work, bringing his word to his people.

The Vulgate influenced translations of the Bible into the Romance languages, daughter languages of Latin, like French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Though Rome fell, Latin remained in use for church liturgy, scholarship and communication among the clergy. It is still the official language of the Roman Catholic Church today. At the Roman Catholic headquarters, in Vatican City, Latin is continues to be utilized for mass.

For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has maintained the Latin vernacular. This is important, simply because the placard above the Lord was written in Latin. The Roman Catholic Church has continued to honor the Lord.

Their work has affected billions of people. Today, their descendants are 1.39 billion baptized individuals (2024).

Embroidered above in the artwork, “I AM,” are the words, “Iesus ego sum,” or “Jesus I AM” from John 18:5 in the Vulgate.

Listen to the “Pater Noster” or the “Our Father” prayer in Latin. Many of the first believers heard and memorized these words as the Gospel moved across Europe.

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More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon 2025

The Spoken "I AM"

Jesus spoke more than one language. The common tongue at his time in the Holy Land was Aramaic. From the cross, the Lord cried out loudly in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) He wanted listeners to know what was happening.

Jesus also used Aramaic to raise a small girl who had died, “Talitha koum,” or “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” (Mark 5:41) Though she was dead, he spoke to her in her native tongue.

Mark 7: 32-34 records that Jesus spoke Aramaic when he healed a deaf man. “They brought a man to him who was deaf and had a speech impediment. They pleaded with Jesus to place his hand on him.  Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.  After he looked up to heaven, he sighed and said, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’)” The man hadn’t been able to hear any language, but the first word he ever heard was Jesus speaking the Aramaic, “Ephphatha!”

Language is important to God. He communicates with his people through words. Even, his Son is called The Word. (John 1:1)

The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew, but during the exile of the Israelites to Babylon, parts of the books of Daniel, Ezra and Jeremiah were recorded in Aramaic.

Over time, Aramaic displaced Hebrew as the everyday language of the Jewish people. The precedence of Aramaic continued until the rise of Islam, when Arabic replaced Aramaic in the Holy Land, approximately 600 years after the Lord ascended.

Aramaic is still used today by small groups of Christians in northern Syria, Iraq, Iran, southeast Turkey and in diasporic communities of Armenia, Georgia and Russia.

The Syriac Bible, a dialect of Aramaic is still used today by the Syrian Orthodox Church, whose headquarters are in Syria, where we were first called “Christians.” This branch of the church was the second established after that in Jerusalem. After 2,000 years, these believers are the physical and spiritual descendants of the early church. They have kept the holy places and the living language of Christ.

Jesus also used Aramaic for teaching, “raca” or “fool,” and “mammon” meaning “wealth.” He wanted the people themselves to know and understand him, the Father and the kingdom of heaven. For that, they needed to hear in their own tongue. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They learned “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Listen to Jonathan Roumie pray “The Lord’s Prayer” in Aramaic. It is quite moving.

To honor the Lord and the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Aramaic word “Jesus” has been embroidered in this artwork titled “I AM.”

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

The Great "I AM"

Jesus spoke more than one language. His biblical language, the Old Testament, was primarily Hebrew, which He could read and speak as Scripture has shown.

One Sabbath Jesus entered Nazareth’s synagogue and then stood up to read from the scroll of Isaiah, which was written in Hebrew. (Luke 4:16-21)

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” (Isaiah 61:1-2a)

In the book of Exodus, Moses saw a burning bush which did not burn up. A voice, God’s voice, spoke to him from the burning bush, instructing Moses to return to Egypt and help free the Hebrew people from slavery. Worried, Moses inquired of the Lord, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?'” (Exodus 3:13)

And God answered Moses in a very specific way: “‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14)

Jewish people don’t say this word, because it is very very holy. Gentile believers know it as “Yahweh,” meaning, “I AM.” God is stating that he is the Existing One. He was, is and always will be. He lives outside of time. He is the Creator, even of time.

This is God’s name. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. And this is why Jesus said, “I AM.” (John 18:5) Jesus also is saying that he was, is and always will be. He was with God before descending to earth. (John 8:58) He is the Creator, even of his own body.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3)

God’s name in the Hebrew of the Old Testament is embroidered on the curtain of this artwork in gold, signifying his beauty, his worth, his royalty, his power, and his holiness.

Moses went on to write down the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch or the Torah—the Law. Moses gave us the Law, but truth and life have come through God’s Son, Jesus.

From the beginning, Moses indicated that God is plural, yet one.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” God is the Hebrew word “Elohim,” which is plural. Jesus was indeed present at the beginning of creation.

Listen to Hebrew, the foundational language of the Scriptures, which were carried to believers by the Jewish people.

Please share!

More about the art piece: “I AM”

(C) Kelly Jadon, 2025

"I AM"

I am a Christian artist.

Several months ago I was inspired during my morning reading of the Scriptures to begin a large artwork incorporating the method of wrapping. The tabernacle in the Old Testament was wrapped in specific layers of protection. Each one had a purpose and symbolic meaning.

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“I AM” in progress. Note the Arabic for “I AM” within my embroidery hoop—top left of photo. Measures 30×40”

About that time, my pastor read from the book of Genesis about creation. At God’s Word, the oceans teamed with sealife. (Genesis 1:20) In the past, I have worked prolifically with layered glass, creating sealife mosaics, highlighting their beauty and variety.

With prayer, I began there. At the bottom of the artwork, I formed the coral reef.

Taking recyclable materials, I stuffed, wrapped, knitted and sewed the coral. With sequins, ribbons and beads, I gave it great beauty, just as the reefs themselves are gorgeous, just as the tabernacle was very beautiful.

Wrapping in layers shows depth. The sea turtle is polyfil stuffed cardboard, glued and sewn shut. Then it is bound with green fabric, decorative mesh, green fishing cord, strung beads, and finally gold pieces from disassembled jewelry. Between the gold are green “sequins,” created from plastic beverage bottles.

Within the ancient tabernacle was a first covering of violet, purple, and scarlet material, embroidered with cherubim, a type of angel.

Above and around the sea turtle are embroidered fish, on similarly-hued tulle, the powerful words of the Lord from John 18:5 in many languages. The fish swim together in the deep water column of the sea. Togetherness is protection.

Each fish represents a spoken tongue proclaiming the divinity of the Lord as Creator—the great “I AM.” He speaks to each part of the body of Christ in their own language, yet, He speaks to all as one body.

God works through His people—the fish (Matthew 4:19), to fulfill His global vision: “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

God began with four key languages at the cross. Aramaic was spoken by the Lord. Hebrew, Greek and Latin were written on a piece of wood above the head of Jesus, “King of the Jews.” Then at Pentecost men heard the Gospel proclaimed by Peter in their own languages. (Acts 2:8-11)

As Peter proclaimed the Gospel, so too do believers, the fish, taking the Gospel across the waters of the world.

At this time, March 2025, there are 28 languages recognized, including the early church languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Coptic, Arabic, Geez, and Greek; the Cyrillic languages of Russian and Ukrainian; the languages of Macedonia and Armenia; the scripts of Farsi and Kurdish; and the exotic alphabets of the Far East: Chinese, Thai, Bengali, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. As this is a work daily in progress, more languages will be added. As I work, I pray.

You can read my blog, “The Wrap,” where I write about the fascinating origins of the languages, their scripts, and how they were developed to take the Gospel to the world. The history of how God moved in this way, through language, demonstrates His power—the very power of God, the Word of God.

It was in John 18:5, that Jesus spoke “I AM” to the mob that had come to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. John 18:6 continues, “Now then, when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.”

This Scripture has always amazed me. Such is the power of Jesus, even His very Word!

Jesus wants believers to know He is the power. His words are power. They are Spirit! They are life! (John 6:63) They are truth! (John 17:17)

At one time, the beginning of the church, she was one body, according to the will of God. (John 17:20-21)

Let us “Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments spoken by His mouth.” (Psalm 105:5)

As Christ calls us to carry forward the Gospel across the waters into all the world, so I hope to send this piece of art to cities around the United States and even abroad to open eyes to the truth of the Creator, our Savior--"I AM.”

In addition, I hope that all parts of the body of Christ will see that Jesus speaks the same words of truth to all true believers.

Would you please share in this joy of reaching others who will recognize their own tongue and ask “What is this?” and then they will be told, “They are the words of Jesus, the Creator, the One Who Is.”

Would you please share in uniting the body of Christ?

Every bit helps.

(C) 2025 Kelly Jadon