Knocked For A Loop
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. John 18:4-6 (KJV)
Did you know that the name of God knocked a whole band of Roman soldiers and temple guards to the ground? In this scripture passage, John describes the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane when soldiers came with Judas to arrest Jesus. They told Jesus that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Unfortunately, the Bible translators interpreted Jesus’ response incorrectly. The King James Version says that He answered them and said, “I am he.” However, the word “he” is usually shown in italics, meaning it was not in the original manuscripts. In actuality, Jesus answered them and said, “I AM.”
We know from the account of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3 that God identified Himself to Moses as “I AM.” So, when Jesus answered and said, “I AM,“ He was identifying Himself as God. And the power of that statement literally forced all those soldiers to fall back and onto the ground. What a mental image that paints! And it reminds me of the fact that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The power of the Name forced them to the ground to acknowledge Him as Lord.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11 (KJV) emphasis mine
Consider this: if His Name has so much power that trained, strong, fierce soldiers could not stay on their feet, imagine what it can do in your situation!
