John 18:6

[raddmadd]

Originally Posted by John 18:6 (NKJV)

Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground

What does that verse mean?

I've thought of it as a way of Jesus showing His authority.

Originally Posted by John 18:1-6 (NKJV)

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

They come with weapons, but just the words from His mouth, confessing that He indeed is Jesus, causes them to fall backwards (and also remember, friends, how God created everything with His words )

What do you all think?

[Calidog]

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

[DMcKay]

Originally Posted by raddmadd

What does that verse mean?

I've thought of it as a way of Jesus showing His authority.



They come with weapons, but just the words from His mouth, confessing that He indeed is Jesus, causes them to fall backwards (and also remember, friends, how God created everything with His words )

What do you all think?

Raddmadd,

Your supposition is correct. They enter the Garden and approach Jesus and the disciples. Jesus asked them who did they seek. They said that they were looking for Jesus the Nazarene. In the next verse Jesus told them ego eimi "I AM" There is a question with the wording of the passages as to whether or not Jesus said the phrase ego eimi once or twice. But the result was that they fell backward to the ground at the occurrence of Jesus declaring Himself equal with the "I AM" or Yahwah name for God which is the covenant-keeping God of the Bible. Jesus is making sure that there is no doubt of the fact that He was Yahwah, the hesed or loving kindness, Covenant-keeping God of the Old Testament. Just by Jesus stating who He is was sufficient to knock the schemers off their feet and away from the ego eimi.

Don M

[eastcoast_bsc]

I always interpeted John 18:6 , as showing the power of the revelation that Jesus was He 'Messiah" or "I am " or "Christ" The mere spoken word of "The" revelation was enough to bring them to their knees. What say ye Don ?

[DMcKay]

Originally Posted by eastcoast_bsc

I always interpeted John 18:6 , as showing the power of the revelation that Jesus was He 'Messiah" or "I am " or "Christ" The mere spoken word of "The" revelation was enough to bring them to their knees. What say ye Don ?

Rich,

I'n not sure of what you are saying/asking with this statement. If you are thinking that they ere driven backwards from the power or authority with which Jesus was speaking then Yes I whole-heartedly agree with your idea.

Don M

[eastcoast_bsc]

Originally Posted by DMcKay

Rich,

I'n not sure of what you are saying/asking with this statement. If you are thinking that they ere driven backwards from the power or authority with which Jesus was speaking then Yes I whole-heartedly agree with your idea.

Don M

Precisely Don, but I was expanding it a little to say, it was the revelation that He (Jesus) was the Christ. I believe that the revelation spoken was infused by the power of God. Just as when Jesus commands a spirit to leave, it leaves. Or when Jesus says one is healed, they are healed. When asked if he is the "Christ" the power and revelation (that he is Christ) his response was enough to physically knock them to the ground.

Does that clear it up, or am I being too Philosophical in my answer

[intricatic]

Originally Posted by eastcoast_bsc

Precisely Don, but I was expanding it a little to say, it was the revelation that He (Jesus) was the Christ. I believe that the revelation spoken was infused by the power of God. Just as when Jesus commands a spirit to leave, it leaves. Or when Jesus says one is healed, they are healed. When asked if he is the "Christ" the power and revelation (that he is Christ) his response was enough to physically knock them to the ground.

Does that clear it up, or am I being too Philosophical in my answer

Perhaps, the statement "I am He" doesn't seem so impacting to send a person falling onto the ground when heard, unless it was a double-entendre of sorts.

[eastcoast_bsc]

Originally Posted by intricatic

Perhaps, the statement "I am He" doesn't seem so impacting to send a person falling onto the ground when heard, unless it was a double-entendre of sorts.

Well a good right, followed by a left hook works for me.

[DesertScroll]

Originally Posted by eastcoast_bsc

Well a good right, followed by a left hook works for me.

This won't have anything to do with the original question, but since you brought up the double punch. Jesus was very skilled at the double punch.

John 10:31-39 where in v.31 the Jews had picked up stones to stone Jesus with after explaining that he and the Father are one and that the testimony he was giving, which his works proved, they did not believe.

So he basically challenges them using the law and showing an example of scripture where the terms gods was used to denote Israel, especially the upper tier of Israelites (Psa 82:6).

The double punch from this passage is that the whole psalm is lambasting those in authority in Israel for unjust ruling, partiality to the wicked, being exactly like the pagan nations around them, and calls upon God for a righteous judgement. This of course would have been picked up by these people as they would have known the passage and would have made them even more furious as Jesus was telling them that their judgement stank. So after Jesus stating that the Father is in him and he in the Father they again sought to seize him.

That is the only one that comes to my mind. Maybe you guys have some more that you know about that you would like to explain?