"I AM HE!"

John 18:2-12                              (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." Judas, who betrayed HIM, was standing with them.
6 When JESUS said to them, "I AM HE," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 So HE asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "JESUS of Nazareth."
8 Jesus answered, "I told you that "I AM HE". So, if you seek ME, let these men go."
9 This was to FULFILL THE WORD that HE had spoken: "Of those whom you gave ME I have lost not one."
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
11 So JESUS said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the FATHER has given ME?"
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested JESUS and bound HIM."



From time to time my natural man gets downtrodden by the fallen state of "this world" and some of its inhabitants.  When I am hurt, or fellow believers are hurt by me, as GOD is accomplishing HIS Plan, it is especially hard to accept.  We must understand that GOD is in control and we are created for HIS glory.   GOD uses our weaknesses to glorify HIMSELF (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Realizing that GOD's Plan WILL BE completed, even if it causes us pain, is a humbling notion.  GOD uses my weaknesses to glorify HIS NAME!  How awesome is that??

Simon Peter exhibited great love for JESUS, when in verse 10 above, he cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest.  But JESUS told Peter "shall I not drink the cup that the FATHER has given ME?"  JESUS "knew" that GOD's Plan would involve HIM being sacrificed for all.  HE knew the time had come to fulfill that Plan which called on HIM to endure pain, suffering, and death on the cross for all.  Yet, only a few verses later in verse 17, Peter was denying he even knew JESUS, and for the third time in verse 27 and IMMEDIATELY the rooster crowed!  Though JESUS knew that Peter loved HIM, HE also knew GOD's Plan WILL BE fulfilled!

When JESUS asked those sent to arrest HIM "Whom do you seek" HE knew what their answer would be.  Scripture records in verse 4 that "JESUS, knowing all that would happen to HIM"!  HIS response was, once again, scriptural, for HE was THE WORD!  In Exodus 3:14 it is written "GOD said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."  JESUS' response to them, "I AM HE"!!!  HE could have said that HIS name was JESUS, or said nothing at all.  But HE told them the same words that GOD instructed Moses to tell the children of Israel who HE was, "I AM HE"!

GOD said "I AM WHO I AM".  JESUS said "I AM HE"!  If JESUS knew GOD's Plan involved suffering and sacrificing for GOD's Glory, why should I expect anything less?  Why shouldn't I expect people to reject me because of my stance for HIM?  JESUS was required to pay the price for my salvation, because HE was "I AM HE"!  Peter had to deny JESUS, because JESUS was "I AM HE"!  For GOD's Glory, and in my weaknesses, I will follow HIM through suffering and sacrifice, because HE IS "I AM HE"!!!