Day 18, John 18

From intimacy to violence: Jesus and his disciples take a walk east to west across the southern part of Jerusalem, they live the town proper and hike through the Kidron Valley so that Jesus may go to place that has brought him comfort in prayer before. We move from the warm atmosphere of praying with Jesus in the upper room to the cool darkness of a moonlit garden. Jesus begins his descent to darkness.

Not before Jesus gives away one more shot at his identity. In the garden, when they ask for him, Jesus again uses the words, referring to himself, “I AM.” “I AM” is the literal, English translation of the Hebrew name for God that was revealed to Moses as Yahweh (some translate Jehovah). Our Bibles will translate it often in the Old Testament at The LORD. When Jesus speaks these words, something about them has a physical impact upon the soldiers that cause them to fall back over each other.

Throuh the gospel of John Jesus has declared himself as follows:

“I AM the Bread of Life” (6:35)
“I AM the Light of the World.” (8:12, 9:5))
“Before Abraham was born, I AM” (8:58)
"I AM the gate” (10:9)
“I AM the Good Shepherd” (10:11)
“I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25)
“I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life” (14:6)
“I AM the True Vine.” (15:1)
“I AM he” (18:5)

The weight of the collective revelation that Jesus has brought to the people is overwhelming not just physically, but Spiritually. His presence pressurizes the environment to the point that those who will not follow him choose all out opposition. So Annas, Caiaphas and Pilate all line up to figure out what to do with Jesus. Annas and Caiaphas lead the opposition. Pilate represents the passively ignorant--the just as guilty third party. His declarative question, “What is truth,” is supposed to relieve his conscience and guilt.

They cannot oppose Him. Peter cannot even follow Him. Who is this man?

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