The Saving I Am
GIST- Jesus is God. Though we need Him, we cannot, nor will we want to, stand in His presence, BUT He provided the solution.
Scripture- John 18:1-11 (<--Link to passage)
--Before we get into our takeaway from this passage, let's set the stage a bit.--
The Setting
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
While studying this, I've found out a couple cool tidbits on this location. I'll just give you a few. First, they were likely here instead of at Lazarus' house (their typical hangout) because it was the Passover, and all Jews were required to be in the city limits of Jerusalem...which this was. Second, King David was actually recorded to have been here in 2 Samuel 15:23 when fleeing from his son Absalom, and those parallels are interesting. Third, (and I guess this is more of an observation) it's interesting that the fall of man started in a garden with man taking a fruit that God had told Him not to, and Christ's redemptive trip to the cross, physically at least, started in a garden where He took the cup God had given Him. (In the first garden, we see destructive disobedience. In the second, we see redemptive obedience.)
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.
This isn't a minor observation. Jesus knew what was going on, yet He went to a familiar place within the city limits and waited. He wasn't hiding in the garden.
3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
This part is crazy, and I'm pretty sure I've misread this my entire life. They are in the garden. It's night. Then, they are approached by this band. Now, I think the image I always had in my head was that everyone but Jesus was taken by surprise. This is unlikely because the number of people who came would have been clearly heard from a distance. First, there is a band of soldiers. That term in the Greek refers to a specific regiment of soldiers, and denotes a large number. It could be as many as 1,000, but most agree that these bands in Jerusalem at the time were between 200-500. Still, this is not a small group. Then, we also have the chief priest and officers of the Pharisees which could be a sizable number in itself because the other gospels refer to them as a crowd. Either way, even on the small side were talking over 200 people coming to arrest one man. They would have been heard. Jesus and his disciples would have had time to escape. They remained.
--Now, in the passage itself, I think we see a clear picture of salvation. So, let's look at this. (Note: I am indebted to Tim Keller for this outline. His words were a little different, but the ideas are the same.)--
The Person- Jesus is God
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5a They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he."
First, we see Jesus' boldness. He is not running. Instead, He approaches the large crowd and asks them who they're seeking. He is in control of the situation. They respond with "We're looking for Jesus of Nazareth." His response clarifies his confidence. In our English translation, He says, “I am he.” The Greek phrase He uses is literally, “I am.” I know for some of you, this immediately rings a bell. It’s the same phrase He used in John 8:58--the one that makes the Pharisees want to kill Him. Furthermore, and this is what would have really resonated with His Jewish audience, it was the name that God used for Himself at the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-15). If I say "I am", you'll ask "what?". There are several things that I am (a husband, a dad, a teacher...etc). Yet, there are many things I am not (famous, stunningly hansom, muscular...etc). Therefore, for a human to say "I am" is incomplete. When God says that He is the "I am", He is just reminding us of the completeness and complexity of His person. He is everything that matters. Jesus stands boldly here because He is God.
The Problem- Man cannot stand in the presence of God; they don't want to.
5b Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
This almost seems like a “side note", but it is important to point out that Judas, who had walked closely with Jesus and seen His character, stood with those coming to arrest Him. Hold this thought for a second.
6 When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Now, look at what happened when Jesus said "I am". This crowd of soldiers (hardened Roman warriors) and religious elites fell to the ground. The same thing happened to Isaiah, a morally upright man in the eyes of the world, when he came face-to-face with the presence of God (Isaiah 6). Throughout Scripture, anytime someone is confronted with the presence of God, they cannot stand. Neither can we. Jesus was completely in control here. Just saying this word brought the warriors to their knees. Had he wanted to do more, it was completely within His power. Yet, He chose not to (more on that to come). We need to get this. All of us need a healthy reminder of the majesty and holiness of God. Many, in an attempt to disprove or discredit Him, are quick to cast judgment upon His actions, to claim He is less than loving, or less than omnipotent. Confronted with His presence, however, those misinformed arguments would fall away...along with the strength of our legs. We cannot stand before God. We don't deserve to.
7 So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Again, this portion is easy to overlook. These people just got a glimpse of God. They were knocked off their feet by His words. Yet, they stand back up and continue with their mission to arrest Him. Like Judas who had walked with Jesus--who had seen His glory (character revealed)--stood in blatant betrayal, this crowd chooses not to acknowledge what they've just witnessed. Such is the state of man (Romans 3:10-18). And...that is our problem. Jesus is God. We cannot stand before Him. We wouldn't if we could.
The Solution- He takes our judgment.
8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."
And now we have our first glimpse at the solution. Jesus is being sought as a danger to society, the leader of an uprising. That is why so many came. They anticipated resistance from "His people". The common practice here would include arresting any of Jesus' followers because they would be consider co-conspirators. Yet, Jesus steps in and says, "Take me. Leave them." This is huge for two reasons. 1- We see Jesus offering Himself up in their place. 2-The Roman and Jewish officials do it! Don't miss out on this significance. We have no record of any of the disciples being arrested alongside Jesus. He asks for them to be pardoned...and they are. Sure, we see in the other gospels that they fled (John Mark might have even ran after Jesus for a bit...before he was disrobed...and fled), but there are at least 200 guards here. If they intended to catch them, they would have. They let them go. This is no small thing. If the United State's military were to capture the leader of a terrorist organization along with his supporters, they would not let the supporters go just because the leader asked them to. All of these men would still be guilty. Yet, Jesus' request is honored because He has control over the entire situation. They aren't taking Him; He's giving Himself up.
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
Small side note here. I am so thankful for Peter. There are few more distinctly relatable characters for me in the Bible. He gets it wrong...a lot. Yet, he always does so with gusto. Due to a misunderstanding of something Jesus had said, he brought a sword with him into the garden. Then, he either demonstrates the greatest or worst aim by cutting off this man's ear. In John's account, we are given his name--Malchus. Minor characters being given names in ancient texts was a way of citing their sources. He was one of John's eye-witnesses.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
To really get the significance of this final statement here, we need to talk about "the cup". What is this? In the other gospels, we see Jesus praying about the cup passing from Him. This refers to the wrath of God, the punishment for sin...what we deserved. And here we see our solution. Not only did Jesus step in for the disciples, He stepped in for us. There will be a judgment day. There has to be, for God is just. Yet, on that day, we have a way to stand before God. This is not by our own strength, nor our own earning. God is holy. We are sinful and cannot stand before Him. We deserve Hell. Yet, Jesus took our place. If we believe in Him and give Him control of our lives, we will be saved. Only then can we stand in His presence. Yet, I think this will cause us to fall on our knees in gratitude.
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