READING: 1 Chronicles 9:1-11:9, John 17:20-18:14
“I am he,” Jesus said to his eventual captors when they told Him they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth. The biblical text tells us that when He spoke those words, “they [the men sent to arrest Jesus] stepped back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6).
We don’t know why they stepped back and fell, though commentators have proposed different reasons. Some assume that Jesus’ words “I am he” identified Him with God, also known as “I Am Who I Am” in the Scriptures (Exo 3:14)—and the soldiers fell under the power of God. Others assert that John was writing of a theophany, a visible appearance of God, that often led people to fall in worship. It may have been as simple as these soldiers were taken aback by Jesus’ stepping toward them and taking control of the situation. In His so doing, Jesus was likely showing that they would not take Him by force; He would instead give Himself up willingly.
Whatever the cause of their falling, we do know that all of us will someday honor Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords: “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). Indeed, it is right for us to bow before Him even now.
PRAYER: “Jesus, I fall before You this day. Keep me on my face.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Chronicles 11:10-13:14, John 18:15-40
