THERE IS POWER IN THE WORDS OF CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“Judas then, having received a band of men and from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.  Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, ‘Whom seek ye?’  They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’  Jesus saith unto them, ‘I am He.’  And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them.  As soon then as He had said unto them, ‘I am He,’ they went backward, and fell to the ground.”  John 18:3-6 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the events which occurred in the garden of Gethsemane by the brook of Cedron.  It documents His betrayal by Judas, His arrest, His trials, and the three times that Peter denied knowing Him.  Here, Jesus responds to the soldiers and the religious leaders who had come to arrest Him.  Jesus approached them and asked them who they were looking for, and they responded, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  When Jesus replied, “I am He,” they were all knocked backwards by His words and fell to the ground. (John 18:1-6)  They were not harmed and got up, then He asked them again who they were looking for, and they gave the same reply.  Then Jesus said to them, “I told you that I am He.  If you are looking for Me, then let these men go.” (John 18:7-9)  Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of a servant of the high priest.  Jesus told him to put away his sword, then He touched the man and healed his ear. (John 18:10-11 and Luke 22:50-51)  They arrested Jesus and led Him away, first to Annas, then to Caiaphas the high priest, (John 18:12-14) and then to Pilate at the judgment hall but Pilate could find no fault with Him. (John 18:28-38)

 

APPLICATION

There is power in the words of God.  When Jesus, The Christ, spoke and said, “I am He,” all those who were against Him were knocked backwards and fell to the ground.  However, because of their disbelief, their hard hearts were not changed, and they got up and arrested Him.  Non-believers are not changed by acts of God.  They frequently come up with some earthly reason to explain the occurrence of a miracle and continue in their non-believing sinful ways.  They do not give God credit for the things that He has done.  As believers, we need to acknowledge the presence of God in our lives (Proverbs 3:6) and give Him praise for the things which He had done. (Psalm 126:3, Isaiah 25:1, and 1 Chronicles 17:19)