I am He

 One part of Jesus’ crucifixion (and the events leading up to it) that I haven’t really ever paused to think about is in John 18.

Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane at night, when Judas, a large group of soldiers, and religious officials come to arrest Him. 

Along with the army of men, they brought lanterns, torches and weapons, clearly expecting there to be a battle or at least some resistance in arresting Jesus.

Instead they are met with none of that but a man who comes out in plain sight, willing to be arrested. 

“Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, ‘who is it that you are seeking?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, they said.” 

It’s the next part I’ve missed:

Jesus answers, “I am He”.

At those words, all these men “stepped back and fell to the ground”. Not because Jesus was intimidating, but because His mere breath speaking His divine identity makes them collapse. 

The holiest of names.

The God whose glory is beyond our comprehension. 

Just as God spoke to Moses when Hs asked God for His name, “And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."

I’m just reminded, as I prepare my heart for Holy Week and Easter, that Jesus didn’t lose His life.

He surrendered it. 

With one word He could have defeated all those men. He easily could have escaped. He could have killed them all.

They couldn’t even stand up at the sound of His voice.

But He laid His life down, voluntarily. 

He didn’t “accept His fate” because He had to. He chose to initiate His death.

And it always comes back to this..

He did it for us.

Chose it for us.

Loved us enough to push His power aside and die a humiliating, excruciating death.

He could have done it differently. 

But He never would have.

He’s the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.

~Kelli Bachara