The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 18:4-6,
"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."
As we read this passage, we find Jesus willingly turned himself over to the Jewish officials and soldiers for his arrest. In reading John's gospel we learn that, in fact, Jesus orchestrated the whole event. After dispatching Judas from the Last Supper to pursue his treachery for thirty pieces of silver, he took his disciples over to a place called Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36, where he knew Judas and the soldiers would find him.
As the Jewish officials and soldiers approached, Jesus went out to them. As he did so he asked who they wanted, and when they said, "Jesus of Nazareth" he told them, "I am he". Then, the strangest thing happened. These soldiers and officials drew back and fell to the ground. Why?
Recall when Moses, 1600 years earlier, asked the Lord for his name, who it was sending him to lead his people out of Egypt, the Lord told him to tell the Jews, "I AM". Tell them "I AM" has sent you. When these soldiers came for Jesus, he identified himself with that very name!
The NIV Quest Study Bible has a great comment about this scene in Gethsemane: "The soldiers, although they were trained to expect violence and physical force, were evidently caught off guard and struck by the power of Jesus' words and courage (7:45–46). But that alone doesn't explain why they fell to the ground. Somehow the divine authority and power of Jesus was revealed to these armed men, causing them to fall down in fear, panic or awe." This happened when he told them "I am he."
"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."
As we read this passage, we find Jesus willingly turned himself over to the Jewish officials and soldiers for his arrest. In reading John's gospel we learn that, in fact, Jesus orchestrated the whole event. After dispatching Judas from the Last Supper to pursue his treachery for thirty pieces of silver, he took his disciples over to a place called Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36, where he knew Judas and the soldiers would find him.
As the Jewish officials and soldiers approached, Jesus went out to them. As he did so he asked who they wanted, and when they said, "Jesus of Nazareth" he told them, "I am he". Then, the strangest thing happened. These soldiers and officials drew back and fell to the ground. Why?
Recall when Moses, 1600 years earlier, asked the Lord for his name, who it was sending him to lead his people out of Egypt, the Lord told him to tell the Jews, "I AM". Tell them "I AM" has sent you. When these soldiers came for Jesus, he identified himself with that very name!
The NIV Quest Study Bible has a great comment about this scene in Gethsemane: "The soldiers, although they were trained to expect violence and physical force, were evidently caught off guard and struck by the power of Jesus' words and courage (7:45–46). But that alone doesn't explain why they fell to the ground. Somehow the divine authority and power of Jesus was revealed to these armed men, causing them to fall down in fear, panic or awe." This happened when he told them "I am he."
I think it is difficult for us, so removed by time and geography, to fully embrace the impact of Jesus Christ in the hearts, minds, and fears of those who had contact with him, both those who embraced him in faith, as well as those who rejected him.
Never lose sight of the fact that these were people who were actually interacting with their Creator God - whether they knew it or not!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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