Nougat 25

So today’s Holy Nougat isn’t a promise; just a reminder.

““Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!” ‭‭John‬ ‭18:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I couldn’t help but think Jesus was not a wishy-washy God, no siree! Contrary to the notion that he couldn’t defend Himself is this incident *during* His arrest. Can you see the scene playing out in your mind? – there’s Jesus back in the stomping grounds with the Eleven. Judas, his shoulda been disciple is there with a bunch of officials like witness in a high level sting operation.

It could have been a standoff. Jesus takes over by asking the obvious: ‘Who’d you want?’ Taking the bait, like true bounty hunters, they called His name. ‘Jesus’ they replied. And instead of the rabbi, they met the I AM. Jesus’ reply was simple; ’I AM He!’

And that’s where ‘just another man’ stopped and the power of the Great I AM manifested. By simply saying ‘I AM’, Jesus took those wannabe bounty hunters straight to the presence of God! Now you and I can say ‘I am’ in response to a question till the cows come home; it’s highly unlikely that anything will happen – not in our power. But from Jesus’ lips; the Spirit of God reminded the men; rather demonstrated to those men; what God’s power really is. They were taken to their own burning bush experience!

That drawing back was involuntary. Falling to the ground was not part of their original arrest plan, I’m sure. Even if they had been warned by Judas that Jesus may have had a few miracles remaining. No; I believe they’d expected some kind of resistance, but not to fall (most likely prostrate) before Jesus.

What is ironic, as we digress for a bit past the nougat, is that Jesus didn’t make a run for it. He simply waited to be arrested. Then He negotiated the safety of His Eleven. (Remember Judah was temporarily sold and souled out). This is a reminder that God’s will prevails and ought to prevail to the glory of God!

When the men fell, I was reminded of Saul on the Damascus Road, of Moses at the burning bush and Dagon’s idol in the presence of God (1 Samuel 5). They all yielded to God’s authority! In Dagon’s case, it was proof that God’s Lord of Lords. Dagon was a Philistine god, whose temple temporarily housed the captured Ark of God’s Covenant. The idol was found face down on the ground facing the Ark. Smashed, actually decapitated! Just like that.

That’s the power of I AM! Not I am, as in we are; but I AM as in YHWH, the name above every other name! When Jesus used that reference to Himself, there was the unquestionable proof of His divinity! But they missed it. Even having been supernaturally rendered prostrate on hearing the Name, they didn’t get it.

And so, unfortunately, did Judas. Despite having been in Jesus’ presence for just about three years. Siblings in Christ, let’s not miss God’s power because we took God’s love for granted. May we be convicted of Jesus’ divinity and prostrate ourselves in voluntary worship. There is no other like Jesus, none. We worship our Triune God alone.

And, when we feel like things are going in the direction of a crucifixion; remember that if the bounty hunters were still permitted by God to arrest Jesus when confronted by God’s grace, then God’s will shall prevail in our lives.

Be blessed by God’s presence.

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May all we seek be found in Christ