Joh 18:4 | KingComments | STEP | With the perfect knowledge He has, the Son knows what will happen. He is the Almighty and the Omniscient. All light falls on His Divine glory. It is not Judas who comes to Him to give Him the betrayer’s kiss, but He Himself goes forth again to meet His enemies. There is only One here who plays the leading role; all the others are mere extras. Before they can say a word, He asks Who they are looking for. He knows what they are up to and Whom they seek, but He asks it to discover them to themselves and also to protect His disciples. His question is one with authority to which they are obligated to answer. They may not immediately recognize Him in the dark of night. The Lord Jesus is not a particularly conspicuous Man. He is not surrounded by a halo that gives Him a special radiance that is seen by all. To His question, they answer that they seek “Jesus the Nazarene”, the humble Man from despised Nazareth ( ). His answer, however, is full of Divine glory. It consists in pronouncing His Name, “I am” ( ; ). He makes Himself known as Yahweh . To paint the contrast, the evangelist John informs us that Judas, of whom he mentions again “who was betraying Him”, is among Christ’s enemies. Only a few hours ago, John was together with Judas present at the Paschal meal. Now Judas finds himself among the enemies of the Lord. The whole company, led by Judas, stands in the presence of Almighty God, the “I Am,” without being consumed by Him. Something else happens, though. The word that makes clear to them Who it is Whom they are seeking takes away all their power to grasp Him. They draw back as if held back by a mighty hand. They also fall to the ground. It does not say whether they fall backward or forward. I suppose they, including Judas, fell forward as a forced acknowledgment of His majesty after speaking His Name (cf. ). Just as easily He could have consumed them, but the hour of His surrender has come. It is as if He is giving them another chance to come to their senses by asking them one more time Who they are seeking. Despite the revelation of His Name and the power expressed in it, forcing them to fall down before Him, they stick to their plan. Their answer again is that they seek “Jesus the Nazarene”. To this He replies that if they then seek Him, they must let His disciples go their way. He must, like the ark at the Jordan, enter the waters of death alone, that the people may go their way. Here the Shepherd puts His life before the sheep. His request for a free retreat for His disciples is at the same time an unobjectionable command which is obeyed. This fulfills the word He said in His prayer to the Father ( ). Already earlier He has also said with regard to His sheep that no one can snatch them out of His hand ( ).

‏ John 18:4

The Lord Asks Whom They Do Seek

With the perfect knowledge He has, the Son knows what will happen. He is the Almighty and the Omniscient. All light falls on His Divine glory. It is not Judas who comes to Him to give Him the betrayer’s kiss, but He Himself goes forth again to meet His enemies. There is only One here who plays the leading role; all the others are mere extras. Before they can say a word, He asks Who they are looking for. He knows what they are up to and Whom they seek, but He asks it to discover them to themselves and also to protect His disciples.

His question is one with authority to which they are obligated to answer. They may not immediately recognize Him in the dark of night. The Lord Jesus is not a particularly conspicuous Man. He is not surrounded by a halo that gives Him a special radiance that is seen by all. To His question, they answer that they seek “Jesus the Nazarene”, the humble Man from despised Nazareth (Mt 2:23). His answer, however, is full of Divine glory. It consists in pronouncing His Name, “I am” (Jn 18:5; Exo 3:13-14). He makes Himself known as Yahweh.

To paint the contrast, the evangelist John informs us that Judas, of whom he mentions again “who was betraying Him”, is among Christ’s enemies. Only a few hours ago, John was together with Judas present at the Paschal meal. Now Judas finds himself among the enemies of the Lord. The whole company, led by Judas, stands in the presence of Almighty God, the “I Am,” without being consumed by Him.

Something else happens, though. The word that makes clear to them Who it is Whom they are seeking takes away all their power to grasp Him. They draw back as if held back by a mighty hand. They also fall to the ground. It does not say whether they fall backward or forward. I suppose they, including Judas, fell forward as a forced acknowledgment of His majesty after speaking His Name (cf. Phil 2:10). Just as easily He could have consumed them, but the hour of His surrender has come.

It is as if He is giving them another chance to come to their senses by asking them one more time Who they are seeking. Despite the revelation of His Name and the power expressed in it, forcing them to fall down before Him, they stick to their plan. Their answer again is that they seek “Jesus the Nazarene”. To this He replies that if they then seek Him, they must let His disciples go their way. He must, like the ark at the Jordan, enter the waters of death alone, that the people may go their way. Here the Shepherd puts His life before the sheep.

His request for a free retreat for His disciples is at the same time an unobjectionable command which is obeyed. This fulfills the word He said in His prayer to the Father (Jn 17:12). Already earlier He has also said with regard to His sheep that no one can snatch them out of His hand (Jn 10:28).