Today’s Devotion
Topic: I Am He!
Text: John 18: 3 – 8
3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again He asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” Amen
On the day Moses was commissioned to return to Egypt and lead the children of God out of slavery, he asked the Lord, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call Me from generation to generation. (Exo 3: 13- 14, 15b).
The Lord God established His name as “I Am” so many years before He descended down as “Word of God In Flesh” and dwelt amongst us. He used the name Jesus now. It is a divine name that was not given Him by the will of man.
It is the name we can relate more easily to. It encompasses the fullness of His divinity. The only name actually, given to the sons of men that we might be saved. You see, angel Gabriel informed Mary that He must be named Jesus because He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1: 21)
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He and His disciples went to a garden to pray. Judas the betrayer knew the place. He had been closer to Jesus; he knew more about Him than the ordinary person in the street. He led a contingent of temple guards with weapons to the garden.
Jesus, knowing why they have come, stepped out and asked “who is it you want?” When they had said “Jesus of Nazareth”, the Lord replied “I AM HE”, and they all fell. Beloved, just at the sound of His voice and with the declaration of His Mighty Name: “I Am He”, power from on high swept the soldiers off their feet.
How can any mortal possibly arrest God? And who is qualified enough to sentence Him. The answer is none, unless permitted from time immemorial as the only way to redeem us back to Himself.
Beloved, the “I Am” God remains unchanged even today. Each time Jesus referred to Himself as “I Am”, He would immediately connect us to the truth about His divine nature. He said “I Am the bread of life, I Am the way, the truth and life, I am the resurrection and life, before Abraham was; I Am”.
Be of good cheer therefore, don’t be sad when troubles surround you. The Father, the “I AM THAT I AM” remains the greatest God of all flesh. His strong love for you compelled and brought Him to die a shameful death on Calvary. So that through the shedding of His blood, we may be saved.
Do not let this mighty sacrifice be in vain. Offer your life to Jesus right now, a token, for all He did on the cross to redeem us back to God. Also tell all who need the love of a saviour that Jesus is still the only way. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is healing to the sick, bread for the hungry, salvation to the sinner and way to the lost.
Begin to pray now. It’s all in His name! Whatever you wanted, is in His name. Hear His small still voice whisper to you “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, come to me all ye that weary and thirst, and I will give you rest.”
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