Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:4-6 NIV
Humanly speaking we would consider this to be the lowest point of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. It was this arrest and subsequent trial and execution which changed the attitude of many people towards him. Many of those Jewish people who had welcomed him into Jerusalem on the day we refer to as Palm Sunday as the coming Messiah now turned against him and wanted him crucified. It was a time of testing for his disciples too - none more so than Peter who three times in a short space of time denied ever being a disciple of Jesus and even pretended not to know him.
However, this was the divinely appointed hour when Jesus would die for the sins of the world. This is not portrayed as a defeat for the Son of God. He displays his deity in a powerful way in his conversation with the gang who invaded the secluded spot in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus asks them a question to which he already knew the answer: 'Who is it you want?' Of course, Jesus the Son of God knew that they were coming to arrest him and he not only knew why they were seeking him but he was acutely aware of every detail of the subsequent events. But it was Jesus' next statement which made the biggest impact. In answer to Jesus's question, they replied, "Jesus of Nazareth," He stated "I am (He)." I have put the word "He" in brackets because it is not needed. In fact, the statement which Jesus made is a declaration that He is the Son of God. The words "I am," are the unique name given to God.
Jesus' reply is powerful and very enlightening. He says, "I am (he)." This is more than just identifying that he is the one they are looking for. Those present were massively affected by what he said. They saw that he was claiming to be God - for only God can use the words "I am" to refer to himself. In Exodus 4:14 God said to Moses, I am who I am."
Here is the full passage in its context.
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
This is an absolute statement. It cannot be qualified or modified. It is the character of God - the holy, eternal one who ever exists and is all powerful. There are 7 statements in John's Gospel where he used the same starter "I am" but he added a metaphor or a picture such as
I am the bread of life or Living Bread (John 6:35)
I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
I am the door or the gate (John 10:7)
I am the Good Shepherd (John 10;140
I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
I am the true Vine (John 15:1)
[These are covered by previous Day Shares from 21st October 2019 to 2nd November 2019]
Here is the link to these. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlRlhkRCUSxhhfRy6PikVreabtVdGg?e=RbJBME
There are also some occasions when Jesus does not add any picture or metaphor. These are known as absolute “I am” statements – including the one in this verse (John 18:5). This is a clear statement of deity – Jesus is using the term which only God used. There are more absolute I AM statements are found in John 6:20; 8:24,28,58; 18:5.
That explains the strange reaction from the temple guard and servants of the High Priest. In the New International Version they are said to have drawn back and fallen to the ground. They were not expecting this reaction from the man they called Jesus of Nazareth. They did not really know what Jesus looked like and so they were unable to identify him and needed Judas to kiss him on the cheek. But much deeper than this - they failed to understand that they were arresting the Son of God and they witnessed Him acting with authority as a king. He would bear a sign above his cross as a mockery of his claim to be king - but he clearly displayed his authority. Jesus does not resist arrest or run from them. Instead, though he is unarmed, he takes charge of the situation and speaks with a tone of majesty and authority. He stepped forward of his own accord. They lose their footing - they lurch backwards and fall to the ground (some have suggested that they fell forward).
And yet after this powerful display of deity, Jesus then allows himself to be arrested by a group of men acting out of jealousy, bitterness and prejudice. There were 12 legions of angels (60,000 - 70,000) waiting a command from the Son of God but that command never came.
The reason for this submission to these sinful men was that it was in God's eternal plan that Jesus would come from heaven to be born in Bethlehem and to die in Calvary. In John's Gospel, this divinely appointed time is described as 'the hour.' [See Day Share entitled 'The Hour has come 08/06/2021] So, although they thought they were in control, the temple guards and servants of the High Priest were carrying out God's will.
Jesus surrendered totally to the will of the Father even though it meant the excruciating, degrading, shameful death by crucifixion. The cup which my Father has given me - shall I not drink it. This metaphor will be the focus of the first Day Share in July.
Picture by Jon Tyson from Unsplash
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