Two Words and a Knockout

In John 18, the dominoes begin to fall. The events surrounding Jesus' betrayal, trials, beating, and crucifixion are all set in motion. They were not random. Even though the Jews presided over three of the sham trials in their religious courts and the Romans presided over the other three in their civil courts, God presided over all on His sovereign, eternal throne.

1 Peter 1:19-20 says that Jesus gave His precious blood as payment for our sins, like a perfect lamb, and that "He was chosen before the creation of the world."

Even in the garden, when He was betrayed, Jesus knew all that was going to happen. He still chose to submit to the Father's plan out of love for sinners.

Want to know something amazing? Instead of running away or hiding, Jesus went to the soldiers and said "Who are you looking for?" When they said "Jesus of Nazareth," Jesus said two words that knocked them to the ground! He said "I AM."

He wasn't just identifying Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. There's no reason these strong and tough soldiers would be KO'd by that statement. Instead, these Jewish guards recognized Jesus' words as identifying Himself as the I Am, the Messiah.

Hundreds of years before, Moses asked God what His name is. What did God say? “I AM WHO I AM" and “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13-14).

In the garden, Jesus, with two words, tells them plainly: "I am the eternal, unchangeable God. I am the Ancient of Days. There were none before me; there'll be none beside me. I have all power, authority, and control."

Hebrews 13:8 tells us Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Revelation 1:8 tells us “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.”

That's good news!

Take some time reading John 18 today. Thank God that He never changes, that His sacrifice is complete, and that His return is close.