NOBODY CAPTURED JESUS
On Friday a cohort of Roman soldiers were led out by Judas to capture almighty King Jesus.
I can’t wait to ask Jesus myself how it went down. Specifically, how exactly a cohort of elite soldiers estimated between 300 to 700, “all fell backwards to the ground” when He pronounced to them “I AM HIM”.
This is all detailed in John chapter 8. The arrest of Jesus is actually covered in all four gospels, but this detail is specific to the Gospel of John.
Let’s break this down a little bit.
Some say that when John says, “they drew back and fell to the ground”, it is because when Jesus says “I am” the priests think he is telling them that he is God. They are so stunned by what they see as blasphemy that they fall backwards.
Even though this detail is not mentioned in the other gospels, I personally believe this confrontation was much more intense. With Jesus coming off a night of intense prayer, so much so that He was sweating drops of blood, the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus in that moment had to have been overflowing!
A cohort of elite soldiers likely were ready for Jesus followers to put up a fight. They approached in the dark with torches. Jesus knowing they were coming, sets the stage by waking up his boys and then calling out to the soldiers, “Who are you looking for?”
He knew and responded with some of the most powerful words ever recorded!
“I Am HIM”
The isolated statement “I Am” (Ego Eimi), with which Jesus identifies Himself twice in the passage, appears in 4 previous verses in John’s Gospel:
«for unless you believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.» (Jn 8:24)
«When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I Am, and that I do nothing on my own;» (Jn 8:28)
«Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am.» (Jn 8:58)
«I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you may believe that I Am.» (Jn 13:19)
In all these verses it is clear that Jesus applies to Himself the proper Name of God in the first person revealed in Ex 3:14: Ehyeh, “I Am”. This is particularly evident in the first, second and fourth verses, in which Jesus notes the importance of {believing/knowing} that “He Is”, echoing Isaiah 43:10 y 48:12.
No doubt Jesus choice of words were well thought out and when He spoke them they unleashed a power that the cohort could not even stand against. “They fell backwards”. Let’s look deeper at this!
The Greek term “fell” (epesan) is used 5 times by the Apostle John in Revelation in the sense of “fall on their face” to worship: 5:8, 5:14, 7:11, 11:16 and 19:4. Someday soon, every knee will bow, fall, or however you choose to say it. Just like the cohort of soldiers, they will not be able to stand in the presence and power of Jesus!
Jesus ask them again after they are down! “Who are you looking for?” How completely awesome is that? Then for an encore, he replaces the ear of the soldier that Simon Peter cuts off! Game Over!
He finishes with announcing the terns of his surrender. “You will let my boys go free!” Fulfilling his own prophecy! Then He officially became the lamb replacing you and me!
Oh, Jesus was just getting started. Yes He allowed them to torture, spit on, ridicule, and whip Him! He allowed them to nail Him to a cross and place a crown of thorns into His skull. All for you and me!
But after He gave up his soul with the words “It is Finished”. He stormed into Hell and took back the keys with demons still trembling today at the just the mention of His Name. We have no idea of the power Jesus holds in just one word! We can’t even imagine or contemplate His Power!
That’s my King!
That’s why we celebrate Easter!
Our Risen Almighty All Powerful King!
Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
He is Him!
The way I see it. We all rise again now, at least those who accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior! When you die, you rise up in Heaven! Just like Jesus!
Read it for yourself!
“So Judas, having obtained the Roman cohort and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to Him, went to them and asked, “Whom do you want?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them. When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again He asked them, “Whom do you want?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you want Me, let these men go on their way.” This was to fulfill and verify the words He had spoken, “Of those whom You have given Me, I have not lost even one.” 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. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword [back] in its sheath! Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?””
John 18:3-11 AMP