John 8:58 & 4:25-26

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John 8:58 New International Version (NIV)

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am(ἐγὼ εἰμί)!”

ISV John 4:25-26

 The woman told him, “I know that the Anointed One is coming, who is being called ‘Messiah‘. When that person comes, he will explain everything.” “I am he(Ἐγώ εἰμι),” Jesus replied, “the one who is speaking to you.”

The EXACT same word(Egō eimi) is used by Jesus to identify himself as the Messiah instead of God in 4:25-26...

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Interesting quote i found from one of my favourite blogs...

“Jesus has been emphasizing his Messianic claim. He does not say that before Abraham was born the logos existed; he says ‘I am.’ It is Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the man whom the Father had consecrated to the Messianic work who speaks. Just before this he had spoken of ‘my day,’ which Abraham saw (John 8:56), by which we must understand the historical appearance of Jesus as Messiah. Abraham had seen this, virtually seen it in God’s promise of a seed (Gen. 12:3; 15:4, 5) and had greeted from afar (Heb. 11:13). And now it is this one who consciously realizes the distant vision of Abraham who says, ‘Before Abraham was born, I am.’ Jesus, therefore, seems to affirm that his historic Messianic personality existed before Abraham was born. If that be the case, then its existence before Abraham must be thought of as ideal.”

The Endnote says, G.H. Gilbert, The Revelation of Jesus, A Study of the Primary Sources of Christianity, pp. 214, 215.

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To properly understand Gilbert we must read John 8:56
New International Version
"Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."