In Luke 22:4-6, we read that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed how he might betray Jesus. It says that from that time on, Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over, when no crowd was present. Well, the opportunity has finally arrived in John 18:1-3, as Jesus enters an olive garden (Gethsemane), on the other side of the Kidron Valley, to pray.

I AM He!

Even though Judas is leading a detachment of soldiers who are carrying weapons, we get the sense that even in His arrest, Jesus is the Lord of the situation. In John 18:4, we read that Jesus goes out from the center of the garden and asks the arresting party “Who is it you want?” The text says that Jesus knew what was going to happen, and 3 times in John 18:4-8, Jesus says “I am he!” When Jesus declared this, Judas and the soldiers drew back and fell to the ground (v.6).

John is the only Gospel writer to report this detail. What is happening here? Remember that John’s Gospel very much focuses on the deity of Christ. The other 3 Gospels portray Jesus’ deity, but John is the most explicit in portraying the divine glory of Jesus the Christ, “the King of the Jews” (John 19:19-22).

Remember, he was the last to write his Gospel, and being the longest living Apostle, he had many years to contemplate his earthly experience with Jesus. And then he walked many years with the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has taught John many things regarding the Person of Jesus, God’s Son. In the prior blogs on John’s Gospel, we have focused on John’s “I Am” sayings as they pertain to Jesus. He is the incarnation in flesh of Yahweh (the Name God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush, the Great “I Am” of Exodus 3:14).

Here in John 18, where Jesus says “I Am He” 3 times, and the arresting party falls to ground, we have a declaration and revelation of Jesus’ deity. And we get a foreshadow of what will happen when unrepentant sinful human beings appear before the Lord Jesus at the Judgement. They will not be able to stand before Christ’s glory. In John 5;21,22, Jesus teaches His disciples that the Father has given the Son all authority to give eternal life and to judge all human beings.

As Jesus declares “I AM He” in John 18:6, there is a sudden manifestation of Jesus’ glory, of His deity. Moses had to take his sandals off at the burning bush, because the LORD said he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Well, these unrepentant sinners, as they come to arrest Jesus, are standing on holy ground. That is, until they get too close, and fall to the ground.

Will You Be Able To Stand?

In the hours that follow, Jesus will be put on trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin and by Pilate, but really it will be these men who are on trial before Jesus. Jesus is the Innocent One, Three times in John 18 &19, Pilate will declare before the crowd: “I find no basis for a charge against him” (John 18:38, 19:4,6). The guilty ones are Judas the betrayer, the soldiers, the chief priests and Sanhedrin, Pilate the politically expedient one, the shouting mob, Peter the denier, the other deserting disciples, and last, but not least, you and I.

Are you not glad that the LORD is merciful? Merciful to Peter as he restores him back to fellowship at the Lake of Galilee (John 21:15-25), and merciful to you and me. As we see the drama of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion unfold, we are meant to see ourselves before Jesus and the cross. “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Thanks be to God for His long-suffering with us.  We will be able to stand before the LORD on Judgment Day because of His Mercy. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

QOTD: Am I grateful for God’s mercy and do I too easily presume on God’s mercy in my day-to-day life?