Staggering incident

There is a curious incident recorded in the gospel of John (John 18.1-12) in the Garden of Gethsemani at the start of Christ’s Passion. When the mob armed "with swords and clubs" came to arrest him led by Judas the Traitor, Jesus went out to meet them and asked them, "Whom are you looking for? "They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered –

The answer that Jesus gave is usually translated in English, ""I am he" or "It is I".

Now, here is the curious incident. When they heard Jesus’s answer, all that armed crowd (Judas among them) fell to the ground. It was as if some giant fist had given all of them a blow so strong that they were all knocked down.

When they recovered and stood up again, Jesus asked again, "Whom are you looking for?" Again they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." This time Jesus said, "I told you I am He. If you are looking for me, let my disciples go." And they arrested him.

What was it in the words of Jesus that had such a staggering effect on that entire armed mob?

The translation "I am he" is accurate in rendering the meaning of what Jesus said. But it does not reproduce exactly what he said, What Jesus said, as recorded in the original Greek in which John’s Gospel was written was, "EGO EIMI" literally "I AM."

They were, of course, speaking in Aramaic, and the way Jesus said it must have sounded to that Jewish mob like the divine name YAWEH. That was the name of God in the Hebrew Bible. When Moses asked God what His name was, God answered from the burning bush: "YAWEH" (I AM) (EXODUS 3,14-15) To the Jews that name was so sacred that whenever they encountered it in the Bible they would not pronounce it aloud. They would substitute the word "Lord". For example, Psalm 23 is written in the Hebrew Bible "Yaweh is my shepherd…." When the Jews recited that Psalm, they would say, "The Lord is my shepherd…."

So in the semi-darkness of the Garden of Gethsemani, when Jesus said "I AM" – in Aramaic – the effect was so shocking, that all those who came to arrest him fell to the ground.

That little incident is not only curious. It is also very revealing. It shows that Jesus – unnamed and alone – was far more powerful than that entire mob armed "with swords and clubs". Jesus was in command of the situation, he was not helpless. If he had wanted to, he could have avoided arrest, When therefore he allowed them to arrest him, it was a voluntary act on his part. He willingly submitted to the torture and death that they had in store for him. His sacrifice was voluntary. Man was redeemed because Jesus willingly suffered in his place.

Yesterday – Palm Sunday – was the beginning of Holy Week. To many people today, Holy Week is merely vacation time. But it is more important than that. It is the week in which we recall the Passion and Death of Jesus. It is a time for reflection. And for prayer.