I Am He

Good Morning! 

Wasn’t the weekend beautiful!!!  For me, it was even more beautiful when I was able to gather with my fellow believers in worship.  I actually had opportunity to be with several groups yesterday.  Of course, I went to Bible study and to our regular worship service; then I headed down the street in Helen to the Presbyterian church to help celebrate my piano teacher’s eighty-fifth birthday; then back to Helen 1^st Baptist for Annebell’s memorial service; and finally to Barrett’s Funeral Home for visitation of a golf buddy who passed.  Busy day … but a good day.

Our pastor spoke on Peter’s denials of Christ.  As usual, I picked up a new nugget to contemplate.  Let’s read …

John 18:2-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 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. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus[b] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Footnotes:

a.     John 18:5 Greek I am; also verses 6, 8

b.     John 18:6 Greek he

Do you remember what God said to Moses when He spoke from the burning bush? Moses had offered God an excuse for not going back to Egypt.  Who will I say sent me? God’s reply was to tell them I AM sent me. In essence, God is saying to Moses (and to us) that He is because He is. Nothing creates Him … He just is. 

Jesus often used those two words in describing Himself metaphorically:

·         I am the Bread of Life (John 6)

·         I am the Light of the World (John 8)

·         I am the Door (John 10)

·         I am the Good Shepherd (John 10)

·         I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11)

·         I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14)

·         I am the True Vine (John 15)

Jesus used it twice more as declarations … John 8: “… before Abraham was, I am …” declaring His eternal being; and as cited above in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Judas betrayed Him.

Note the power of just those two words:

4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus[b] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

One might think that they would have realized His power over them at that point.  But the hardness of their heart compelled them to continue on their mission to kill this man, Jesus.

Sometimes I wonder if the hard places of my heart that is still being conformed to the way God wants it to be compels me to continue in my sinful ways. I realize I remain a “work in progress”. God is still chipping away at my stubbornness.

Two small words … a whole lot o power.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, continue to remind me of who You are …  and who I should be. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  John 18:2-6