His Presence Is Sovereign
"Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground." ~ John 18 vs 4 - 6 (ESV)
These verses describe the events that took place the night Jesus was arrested. I want to zoom in on verse 6 that tells us how the opponents of Jesus responded when he said to them "I am he." The Bible makes it quite clear that that at his response of 'I am he', 'they drew back and fell to the ground'. Did they respond in this manner maybe because of his tone of voice or his posture. All these could be part of the answer but there is more. In the greek, Jesus doesn't say 'I am he', that's in our english translations. The greek renders it as "I am". In saying 'I am', Jesus claims equality with Yahweh. As God responds to Moses in Exodus 3 vs 14,
" God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (ESV).
We can look also to the several times Jesus said the words "I Am". The words "I Am" is mentioned twenty-three times in the gospel of John (John 4:26, 6:20, 35, 41, 48, 51, 8:12, 18, 24, 28, 58; 10:7, 9, 1, 14, 11:25; 13:19; 14:6; 15:1, 5; 18:5, 6, 8). And others found in the gospels of Matthew 22:32; Mark 6:50; 14:62).*
Part of these is the powerful seven "I Am" statements made by Jesus throughout his earthly ministry found in the book of John:
"I Am the bread of life" (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51).
"I Am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
"I Am the door of the sheep" (John 10:7, 9).
"I Am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14).
"I Am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).
"I Am the way, the truth, and the life" (John14:6).
"I Am the true vine" (John 15:1, 5). *
That is no coincidence. In saying those two simple words, He is saying simply that He is God Himself. At that response his opponents fell back and to the ground. What else could've been their response to the 'Great I Am' ?
But all this speaks much about the presence of Jesus. He wasn't just a man of timidity or a weak personality. He is a man of much strength and his glory permeated through his entire being. Even through his suffering, through all his beating and the crucifixion, his glory still premeated through him, because even through all that, God is still sovereign.
I believe his response changed those men that night. He commanded respect without even asking for it. And those men knew it. The verse says that all of them 'drew back and fell down'. That includes the very person who betrayed him that night, Judas. Even Judas fell to the ground.
Jesus' presence changes people. There is simply no doubt about that. In his presence that should be our response to him also. Anything else would be utter rebellion to him.
These verses describe the events that took place the night Jesus was arrested. I want to zoom in on verse 6 that tells us how the opponents of Jesus responded when he said to them "I am he." The Bible makes it quite clear that that at his response of 'I am he', 'they drew back and fell to the ground'. Did they respond in this manner maybe because of his tone of voice or his posture. All these could be part of the answer but there is more. In the greek, Jesus doesn't say 'I am he', that's in our english translations. The greek renders it as "I am". In saying 'I am', Jesus claims equality with Yahweh. As God responds to Moses in Exodus 3 vs 14,
" God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (ESV).
We can look also to the several times Jesus said the words "I Am". The words "I Am" is mentioned twenty-three times in the gospel of John (John 4:26, 6:20, 35, 41, 48, 51, 8:12, 18, 24, 28, 58; 10:7, 9, 1, 14, 11:25; 13:19; 14:6; 15:1, 5; 18:5, 6, 8). And others found in the gospels of Matthew 22:32; Mark 6:50; 14:62).*
Part of these is the powerful seven "I Am" statements made by Jesus throughout his earthly ministry found in the book of John:
"I Am the bread of life" (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51).
"I Am the light of the world" (John 8:12).
"I Am the door of the sheep" (John 10:7, 9).
"I Am the good shepherd" (John 10:11, 14).
"I Am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).
"I Am the way, the truth, and the life" (John14:6).
"I Am the true vine" (John 15:1, 5). *
That is no coincidence. In saying those two simple words, He is saying simply that He is God Himself. At that response his opponents fell back and to the ground. What else could've been their response to the 'Great I Am' ?
But all this speaks much about the presence of Jesus. He wasn't just a man of timidity or a weak personality. He is a man of much strength and his glory permeated through his entire being. Even through his suffering, through all his beating and the crucifixion, his glory still premeated through him, because even through all that, God is still sovereign.
I believe his response changed those men that night. He commanded respect without even asking for it. And those men knew it. The verse says that all of them 'drew back and fell down'. That includes the very person who betrayed him that night, Judas. Even Judas fell to the ground.
Jesus' presence changes people. There is simply no doubt about that. In his presence that should be our response to him also. Anything else would be utter rebellion to him.
Do you even realize that in our every waking moment that God is always present. That understanding of his presence should be enough to keep us from falling into temptation. A reminder of his presence should help us to guard all our ways. Keeping ourselves in check. To strive for holiness as he is holy. To guarding our lips and not speaking against each other or even our enemies for that matter through gossip. His presence should keep us from being judgemental and ultimately to keeping our thoughts and hearts clean, because he is holy and his presence should keep us intact. How we respond to others, persecuted or not, will remind us of how we acknowledge his presence in our lives. His presence in our lives and the acknowledgement of it keeps sin at bay.
That him being present should be a constant reminder of his majesty, his power and his holiness. Allowing our minds to be renewed in and through his word will keep us in his presence, then we can utter like the Psalmist has done countless times before, "Lord keep my ways pure and my lips from deceit".
Jesus our Lord is always present but it's upto us to choose how we acknowledge his presence in our lives. Would you choose to acknowledge his presence by the way you live, being renewed by his word daily. There is always a choice to be made, acknowledge his presence and honour him or neglect his presence and shame will follow.
I admonish you to recognise his presence in your life today, honour him, live for him, worship him because everything is about him.
His Presence Is Sovereign.
Much Blessings,
Shane
I admonish you to recognise his presence in your life today, honour him, live for him, worship him because everything is about him.
His Presence Is Sovereign.
Much Blessings,
Shane
*Denotes research done by using Biblical Doctrine, A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth by Dr. John Macarthur and Richard Mayhue
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