I am He

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

 I AM HE

John 18:1-9

18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"  5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

NIV

So we are at the place where the betrayal becomes complete. Although this was God’s plan all along and he needed to have someone do this dirty deed of betrayal and Judas was the one who he knew would do it. Some would argue God determined Judas to be the betrayer, but it is more likely that Judas was already that type of person and God, of whom Jesus is, in his infinite knowledge of all people, knowing even the number of our hairs, knew beforehand what Judas would do and called him to follow him so that scripture would be fulfilled. Jesus knew the moment he saw Judas that he would be the one who would guide these soldiers and officials to Jesus for the purpose of arresting him. Although this is a great truth in and of itself there is an even greater one who none of the other gospel accounts record. When they showed up, we can only imagine the seen, Roman soldiers, men of war, men familiar with killing, and the officials filled with anger at Jesus, not a group of mild mannered people, but a crowd of angry mean individuals. Jesus knew all, not some, but all that would happen to him, this leads us back to him knowing Judas would be the one from the very moment he first saw him and thus called him to follow him. Yet the most amazing part of this account is that when they showed up and Jesus asked them who were they looking for and when they told him it was Jesus of Nazareth, he replied, “I am he”.  The next thing that happened is proof of the power of his breathe. Eliphaz, the Teminite, one of Jobs comforters said to Job, but also was prophetic, “At the breathe of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish” When Jesus spoke those words, “I am he” they were overpowered by his breathe and drew back and fell to the ground. By his very breathe he could have destroyed them. In the vision revealed to John, he saw Jesus with a double edged sword coming out of his mouth to strike down the nations. So we see the proof  here of his real power to strike down these men, yet he only showed them, so they would know he has the power, but willingly allowed himself to be taken, thus showing us how much he loved us and willingly offered himself for us. What love to lay down his life for us, there is no greater love.