John 18:4-6

‘Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming on him, went up and says to them, “Who are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth”. Jesus says to them, “I am.” And Judas also who betrayed him was standing with them. When therefore he said to them, “I am” they went backward and fell to the ground.'

‘Knowing all things that were coming on Him.' It is being underlined that He acted with full knowledge of the situation. Indeed He was waiting for it. All was known to Him and had He wished He could have called on twelve legions of angels (Matthew 26:53). Then where would the Roman cohort have been? But He was ready for what was to happen, for His hour had come.

‘They answered'. The response comes from a number, from ‘they'. The Roman Tribune (the Chiliarch) stayed in the background. He and his men were not going to be directly involved unless there was trouble.

‘Who are you looking for?' Unafraid of what was to happen Jesus asked the men for whom they were looking. To the reader, and those to whom the words were read, the question would have a double meaning. They knew Who it was. It was the Lord of glory. Jesus was the calmest person there. The contrast in John is deliberate and startling. If only the arresting party had known the real answer to the question. But they thought it was simply a man, ‘Jesus of Nazareth'. The reply was a police-like reply. The formal name of the man to be arrested was given. Jesus indicated that He was that man by declaring, ‘I am He.'

However, while this reply was apparently also commonplace it certainly had a significance for John, for the words ‘ego eimi' could also indicate the ‘I am', the living God, as we have previously seen (John 8:58).

Something about Him at that moment caused the intruders to back away. They would know Jesus' reputation as a prophet. and miracle worker, and they knew what had happened to people in earlier days who had arrested prophets. It would not have been the first time that fire came down from Heaven and destroyed an arresting party (2 Kings 1:9; 2 Kings 1:12). So they were no doubt apprehensive. Besides it was dark among the trees, even though there was a full moon, and the advance of Jesus out of the darkness of the trees, approaching them so calmly, had been unexpected. Furthermore He had a reputation for escaping arrest as a prophet, and in the darkness that was probably working on their minds. They would remember what God had done when men went to arrest Elijah by sending down fire from Heaven. Indeed the very presence of Roman soldiers revealed to them the general uneasiness of their leaders. So it would seem that even their leaders were expecting trouble.

‘They fell to the ground.' Did someone trip in the darkness as he backed away so that others fell over him? If so John sees it as highly symbolic. Or was it the direct result of a moment of supreme divine disclosure? John does not tell us but either way it is clear that John links it with the use of ‘I am'. In his eyes it was the divine name revealed which could only bring obeisance.

‘Judas -- was standing with them.' Another thing that John could not forget was the sight of his erstwhile companion and friend standing with the enemy. It was one thing to learn indirectly of his intentions to in some way betray Jesus. It was another to see him face to face aligned with the enemy. We are judged by the company we keep.