Conviction’s Expiration Date

“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ They replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ ‘I told you that I am he’ Jesus answered.” John 18:4-8a

This almost comical account of Jesus’ arrest (yes, I know that sounds absurd, but consider what is happening for a moment) reveals the tragedy of hardening hearts. The soldiers approach the unarmed Jesus with weapons and multiple backups, as if they were going to war. At the direction of Judas, they stand before Him who stands in front of some civilian followers. It’s not even a fight.

Jesus takes command of the moment by being the first to speak. He knows who they are after, but for the sake of His disciples, He asks, “Who do you seek?” He wants His disciples to see what happens next: the hardened soldiers fall back when he says, “I am He.” Those words, “I am He,” so reminiscent of God’s revelation to Moses, “I Am has sent you,” are too powerful. The soldiers involuntarily fall back.

They didn’t just fall back. They fell to the ground. Three little words buckled their knees and sapped their courage.

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