John 18:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

NIV: Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

NASB: They answered Him, 'Jesus the Nazarene.' He *said to them, 'I am He.' And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

CSB: "Jesus of Nazareth," they answered."I am he," Jesus told them.Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them.

NLT: Jesus the Nazarene,' they replied. 'I AM he,' Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.)

KJV: They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

NKJV: They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.

Jesus' enemies needed to conspire with Judas (John 13:2–3; Matthew 26:14–16) for two reasons. First was inside information: knowing where to find Jesus away from a supportive Jerusalem crowd (John 11:57). Second was identification: clearly pointing out the right person to the arresting soldiers, for which Judas has arranged a sign (Luke 22:47–48). Contrary to what they expected, however, Christ has voluntarily approached the group and asked who they have come for (John 18:1–4).

The response Christ gives here parallels His earlier "I am" statements (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1). All of these invoke the way God identified Himself to Moses (Exodus 3:14). The claim is a declaration of God's necessary, absolute existence. Used here, it also becomes a final proof that Jesus is submitting to this experience (Philippians 2:8), not being overpowered. The divine force of His words will knock the arresting men to the ground (John 18:6), only for Christ to agree to be taken into custody (John 18:8, 12).

John 18:1–11 occurs after Jesus' High Priestly Prayer (John 17). The garden setting evokes both the beginning and end of human history (Genesis 2:8; Revelation 22:1–5). Christ's obedience contrasts with the disobedience of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45; Philippians 2:8; Genesis 3:12). Writing after the other Gospels were in circulation, John skips over Jesus' prayers in the garden (Matthew 26:36–46). Judas arrives to identify Jesus so He can be arrested. Christ provides a last demonstration of power before submitting to His enemies. Peter's maiming of a servant is mentioned, along with Jesus' rebuke of Peter, but not the healing of the servant's ear (Luke 22:50–51), or the disciples retreat (Matthew 26:56). David, also, experienced betrayal by a close ally while crossing Kidron on the way to the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:23–31).

Jesus is secretly, quietly arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and taken to a series of sham trials before Jewish leadership. This leads to His encounter with the local Roman governor. Jesus accepts being described as "King" but denies that His current purpose is earthly rule. A mob assembled by Jesus' enemies reject Pilate's attempt to free Jesus. In the meantime, Peter fulfills Christ's prophecy about a three-fold denial.

John's Gospel was written well after the other three, so he frequently chooses to present different details. Chapter 17 detailed Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, just before He entered the garden of Gethsemane. This chapter describes Jesus' arrest, sham trials before Jewish leadership, and the beginning of His trial before the Roman governor. In the following chapter, Jesus will be unfairly condemned, executed, and buried.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/7/2024 12:47:24 PM