Whom are you seeking? John 18:4,7
Jesus asked this question twice to the band of soldiers, numbering as many as six hundred, and temple police that Judas led to the Garden. The group answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."
When Jesus replied "I am He," the entire group fell backward on the ground. In the English translation, the word "He" is supplied by the translators. What Jesus said was that He is the God who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. He is Jehovah. Are you coming to arrest the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Think about this…
A disillusioned Judas was seeking a fraud, a man who passed himself off as the coming king, who turned out to be just talk. The Roman soldiers sought a man likely to incite riot and rebellion. The temple police sought the greatest threat to Judaism since its inception.
Jesus asked them again, and they gave the same answer. He replied (without knocking them down this time), "I already told you, I am God. If you want Me, if you really want to go through with this, then let these other guys go."
When you come face to face with Jesus, whom are you seeking?
- A healer
- A problem solver
- A philosopher
- A prophet
- A teacher
- A rabble-rouser
- A disappointment
- The Savior
- The Redeemer
- Your Lord
Who is He?
The thing is, we don't have to choose just one. Our ideas – or limitations – about Jesus Christ don't change the reality of who He is. He is the sovereign Lord, the Creator God, the Merciful Savior and Gracious Redeemer. He is all these and more. He is unlimited in power, presence and knowledge. Is He the one you're seeking?