I Am He

Scripture Reading: John 18:1-11

In the Scripture linked above, we find this fascinating description of the arrest of Jesus. Judas leads a contingent of men out to the Garden where he knew Jesus and the disciples would likely be. These men were not Roman soldiers. They were the Temple guards, Jewish men who were the temple security force.

Jesus doesn’t wait but meets their approach with His own. He calmly, regally walks toward them and asks who they are seeking. They reply, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

In most English translations it says that Jesus answered, “I Am He.” In the Greek, His answer is “I Am.” This is noted in English by the way the pronoun “He” is italicized. The italics indicate a word not in the original language but added to make it more readable or to give clarification. This is one of those places where it would have been better to stick closer to the original.

As you might know, “I Am” is an Old Testament name for God. John emphasizes Jesus’ use of it throughout his gospel. John records Jesus saying things like, “I Am the Bread of life.” These “I Am statements” were one of the ways we see Jesus revealing His deity.

Now, notice the reaction of these men in the Garden. They took a step back and fell to the ground when Jesus said, “I Am.” This was not a voluntary act on their part. It was compulsory. They could not help themselves. They did it, not once, but twice in response to Jesus’ declaration that He is the “I Am.”

Later Paul would write that one day, “Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord…” One might wonder how it will be that all of sinful humanity, so much of whom live in open and obstinate rebellion against Jesus, would suddenly bow before Him as Lord. Well, you have your answer here.

When they see Him as He is, when they see Jesus as the Great I Am, they won’t be able to resist the necessity of falling down before Him.

garden of gethsamane