Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:4-6 (ESV)

Who Am I?

Let me set the stage. Here we are as the soldiers come into the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. Judas is betraying His Savior and Friend for some silver. Jesus has been praying all night with such intensity and inner struggle that the bible says He literally sweated blood.

He was under acute amounts of stress. He was betrayed. Accused. Attacked. Yet when they come for Him is full of confidence, assurance and peace.

I find this passage so cool. In Exodus 3:13-15, God has appeared to Moses in a bush that is on fire but not consumed. He is calling Moses to deliver the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Exodus 3:13-14 (ESV)

The Identity of Jesus

God’s name is “I AM” – the very “I AM” statement that Jesus uses when His accusers come to take Him away. The power of the identity of Jesus causes the soldiers to fall down on the ground.

Jesus knew exactly Who He was and what He had come to do.

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37 (ESV)

Who is He?

Jesus does not have to ask, “Who am I?” Jesus is confident in His identity. He is one with God the Father and that Name is full of power and glory. The people fall down at its utterance.

What has He come to do?

Jesus Himself tells Pilate that He came to testify to the truth. He is a king that came humbly to bring truth to His subjects.

Action Step:

Who am I? What have I come to do?

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10 (ESV)

Who am I? I am a child of the King, who needs to step into the confidence and assurance that comes with the title. I am not forsaken.

I have been put on this earth to testify to the truth. I was created to be a demonstration of God’s truth. Jesus showed us how and now we are to walk in His ways.

I don’t know about you, but I needed a reminder of Who He is and who I am today.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you that you never leave us alone. We are your children and have your power and authority inside of us. Thank you for sending your Son to show us the way. Help us to live confidently and truthfully in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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