John 18:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

NIV: Jesus answered, 'I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.'

NASB: Jesus answered, 'I told you that I am He; so if you are seeking Me, let these men go on their way.'

CSB: "I told you I am he," Jesus replied. "So if you're looking for me, let these men go."

NLT: I told you that I AM he,' Jesus said. 'And since I am the one you want, let these others go.'

KJV: Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

NKJV: Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,”

This statement is not merely a suggestion. When Judas arrived with heavily-armed men (John 18:2–3), Jesus took initiative and asked who they had come for (John 18:4). He then identified Himself as their target, but in a display of power so overwhelming that it literally knocked the arresting men off their feet (John 18:5–6). Repeating the question (John 18:7) after such a spectacle makes it clear that Jesus intends these men to deal with Him, not the disciples.

Jesus is implying He will cooperate with the soldiers' arrest (Philippians 2:8) but will not allow them to arrest His followers. This fulfills part of the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus mentioned His commitment not to lose any of His people (John 17:12) In a way, it also parallels the concept of the Gospel. Despite His absolute power, God chooses to place Himself between His followers and danger, taking a punishment they deserve (John 3:16).

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 5/6/2024 10:12:25 PM