I Am He: John 18:1-11

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

The Kidron Valley—dark ravine, winter stream, separating Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Jesus crossed with his disciples, entering a garden. John calls it simply a garden; the other Gospels name it Gethsemane.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

Judas knew. Jesus had made no secret of this retreat. The betrayer knew exactly where to bring the soldiers.

So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Torches and lanterns to arrest the Light of the World. Weapons to seize the Prince of Peace. The irony was thick. A cohort—potentially six hundred Roman soldiers—plus temple officials. For one man from Nazareth.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, Who is it you want?

Knowing everything. Not surprised, not ambushed. Jesus stepped forward and asked the question.

Jesus of Nazareth, they replied.

The name. The target. Jesus of Nazareth.

I am he, Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

I am he. In Greek, simply ego eimi—I AM. The divine name spoken to an armed mob. And Judas stood among them, watching.

When Jesus said, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground.

They fell. Six hundred soldiers, temple guards, Judas himself—all knocked backward by two words. A flash of unveiled glory. A glimpse of the power being voluntarily restrained.

Again he asked them, Who is it you want? Jesus of Nazareth, they said.

Jesus asked again, letting them recover, giving them another chance to respond.

Jesus answered, I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.

Protection for the disciples. Even in arrest, Jesus shielded his own. Take me; let them go.

This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: I have not lost one of those you gave me.

The prayer of chapter 17 being answered in chapter 18. Not one lost.

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

Peter fought. Outnumbered six hundred to eleven, he drew his sword and swung. The high priest's servant lost his ear. John alone names him—Malchus.

Jesus commanded Peter, Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?

Put it away. The cup must be drunk. The Father had given it. Peter's sword was irrelevant to the divine plan.

Jesus could have called legions of angels. He had just knocked soldiers to the ground with his name. But he chose the cup. He chose the cross.

The arrest proceeded—but make no mistake. Jesus was not captured; he surrendered. Not taken by force; he gave himself freely.