And He said “I am He”…

“Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”” John 18:3-11.

The high priest at the time of Jesus’ arrest was a man by the name of Caiaphas. He is referenced in Matthew 26:3,4: “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people'”.

Let’s examine John 18:3-11 because there is a lot we can take from this passage.

The name Peter means “rock” and is used to represent the law. The name Malchus means “my king”. Malchus represents us. He also represents the enslavement of the people of God by the enemy. Caiaphas means literally “one who vomits”. Caiaphas represents the spirit of religion and the oppression of the people of God. He more directly represents the enemy. This passage of Scripture represents what God has done for us. It demonstrates how Christ has not only set us free from Satan but also from the law. Christ healed Malchus, who was the slave of “the one who vomits”, and had his ear cut off by the one called “rock”. This demonstrates how the Law had cut off the spiritual hearing of the mankind; it also demonstrates how the people were enslaved and owned by the enemy. When Christ came He changed all of this. He healed the hearing of the people and gave them a name. It is interesting to note in this passage that the name of the slave Malchus was mentioned but the name of his master Caiaphas was not. Why is this? Because the enemy has no representation before God – only You and I do and we are called by name.

How did Jesus change the atmosphere when the guards came to arrest Him? Jesus simply said “I am He” and they fell to the ground. In the Greek, Egō eimi is literally translated “I am”. This is how God introduced Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 before He delivered His people. When God simply states who He is people are delivered, healed, set free and given an identity. What does this demonstrate to us? This shows us that all we have to do is state who God is over our situation or circumstance and His power will knock down our enemies.