Jump Start # 3737

John 18:4-6 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”

I’ve been reading Shane Scott’s wonderful book, “Christ before our eyes.” It’s promoted as readings for the Lord’s Supper, but it is much more. So much depth and insight. I try to read one chapter a day. I’d recommend it to your 2025 reading list.

Our passage and thoughts are generated from one of his chapters. There seems to be some confusion that took place in the garden. It was dark. Judas and the guards arrived with swords and torches. Matthew quotes Judas as saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” That alone seems to indicate that the guards did not recognize Jesus. They may have grabbed John or Peter. Judas identified Jesus with a kiss.

John’s Gospel adds yet another layer to this. Not only did Jesus step forward and approach the coming mob, “went forth,” as the text states. He didn’t hide. He wasn’t standing in the shadows. He didn’t move Peter in front of Him. He stepped forward and then asked, “Whom do you seek”? The Lord knew. He didn’t say, “What are you guys doing out here so late at night?” Or, “What’s the trouble, boys?” Whom do you seek.

They had a name, but not a face. They were seeking Jesus. Jesus the Nazarene. John writes, “I am He.” Twice in these verses Jesus says, “I am He.”  Most versions express the words of Jesus as, “I am He.” Having said that, the mob fell to the ground. What an odd reaction. Why? They came for Jesus and when He identified that He was Jesus, you’d think that they would lunge forward, grab Him, or draw their swords. But, they fell to the ground. Jesus didn’t cause the sun to shine at that dark moment. There are no apparent miracles taking place at that moment. Why fall to the ground? Why did they not do what they came to do?

The answer is in what Jesus said. The NAS correctly puts the word “Him,” in italics. Checking a Greek N.T. one learns that “Him,” is not in the original. Take out the word “Him.” Jesus said, “I am.” I AM—that is the name of God. In Exodus 3:14, Moses is told by God, “You shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM’ has sent you.”

Throughout John we find many attributes attached to I AM. I am the good shepherd. I am the way, the truth and the life. I am the door. I am the bread of Life. I am the light of the world. I am He. But, first and foremost, I AM. Hebrews 11 reminds us, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” I AM.

So, back to the garden scene at night. Jesus approaches and says, “I AM.” The Temple guards, being Jewish, knew the name of God. They fell. They fell, possibly in fear. They fell, in confusion. Jesus, using the name of God for Himself. They fell, yet they remained. They fell, yet they still arrested Jesus. They fell, and they still delivered Jesus to the high priest.

Now, here are some thoughts for us:

First, does the name of God move us? Our culture has taken God’s holy name and used it as a word to be said when you don’t know what to say. Blasphemous. Thoughtless. Made common as dirt. Jesus said, “I AM,” and the guards fell. Precious is the name of our Lord. Keep it special. Keep it sacred. Honor the Lord in the way you talk and the way you talk about Him.

Second, the expression, “I AM,” is now. It is present tense. We might say about some things, “I did.” Or, “I once could.” But, for Jesus, it is always present tense. Jesus said regarding God, “I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Implying not only was Abraham, Isaac and Jacob alive, though they had died, but God was still there God. Nothing had changed in that relationship. Here or there, He is still our God.

Third, it is sad that the temple guards, having fallen to the ground, did not get up and walk away. They should have. But Jesus was on a divine mission. He had an appointment with the cross. There was no other way but the way of the cross. How many today, hear the words of Scriptures, and think nothing of it. How many want to argue with God. How many think that they are in the position to challenge and question God. Job learned some lessons about speaking to God without realizing he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.

I AM—sure is something to think about. I’m glad Shane wrote about that. I learned something. How about you?

Roger