After praying, Jesus goes with his disciples to a garden they must know fairly well, since that is where Judas leads the Roman soldiers and the temple police to meet them. Burridge points out that what is translated into English as "a detachment" of Roman soldiers was at minimum 200 soldiers. Two hundred, and this does not include the temple police, to arrest a single man and perhaps subdue eleven others. I wonder if this extreme show of force is the result of the Jewish religious leadership feeding the fears of their Roman overlords?
In spite of the overwhelming military presence, Jesus takes charge immediately. In fact, he was already in charge when he went to the garden in the first place. I get the feeling that Jesus and the Disciples arrived at almost the same moment as Judas and the soldiers. Once all the players are in place, Jesus doesn't wait for the officials to seek him out. He steps right up to them and asks who they're looking for.
Three times he asks, and each time they say, "Jesus of Nazareth," Jesus replies, "I am." The NRSV actually reads, "I am he," but the footnote tells us that in Greek his response is "I am." The powerful name has been spoken as it was to Moses before the Exodus. The response of the soldiers and the police shows that they understand all too clearly what Jesus has said. First they back away, and then they fall to the ground. Burridge writes
However, as so often in John the deeper level indicates that falling prostrate is the proper reaction to a divine appearance or the pronouncement of God's name. (p. 205)Is there anything more Jesus really needs to say?
Peace,
Jeffri
Peace,
Jeffri
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