After Jesus had washed His disciples feet and celebrated the Last Supper with them, they go to the Mount of Olives, to a particular place called Gethsemane, where Jesus prays, and His disciples sleep. All but one of them that is, one who stopped being a disciple. Judas goes off, gathers some soldiers, and leads them to Jesus so that they can arrest Him.
As this is happening, Jesus asks a question: Whom do you seek? (John 18:4).
The answer comes back - Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus responds - as your English translation probably puts it - I am He.
There’s more to Jesus answer than that I think. It’s the same construction has Jesus uses in John 8, when Jesus says, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
Whom do you seek?
Jesus of Nazareth.
I am.
And then they all fall to the ground, caught in the shock wave and blast wind of Jesus revealing once again who He is - I am. The same I am that called to Moses from the burning bush. The Name revealed in power and glory.
There is such an irony to this scene because these seekers of Jesus seek Him for entirely the wrong reason. When Jesus is born, Magi or wise men from the East seek Jesus. And we often cliche this into “Wise men still seek Him” but these soldiers seeking Jesus were not wise.
After Jesus is raised, an angel appears to the women who go to Jesus’ tomb. The angel says, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).
The Magi and the women of course seek Jesus for entirely the right reason: to honor Him. The soldiers seek Jesus for entirely the wrong reason: to arrest Him.
And yet the seeking for the wrong reason leads us to the innocent suffering and death of Jesus, and therefore, our forgiveness.
Whom do you seek? And why?
Let us seek Jesus. Let us seek to honor Him.
Be Curious. Ask Questions.
Andy
Very well said, Andrew.