SUMMARY
The forces of the world come to arrest Jesus in the garden, yet he overpowers them with the name of God. Jesus also makes clear that he uses his power to save others and not to save himself.
ANALYSIS
John’s account of the arrest of Jesus differs from those in the other Gospels. The others tell of Jesus praying an anguished prayer, but in John’s Gospel the prayer was made at the Last SupperLast Supper is another term for the Lord's Supper. The term refers specifically to the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. Christians believe that the sacrament of the Lord's Supper (also "communion" or "the Eucharist") was established by Jesus at the... and concerned his glory and the future of his disciples (John 17). In the other Gospels Judas shows the soldiers whom to arrest by giving Jesus a kiss, but in John’s Gospel Jesus steps forward and identifies himself. Jesus takes the lead throughout the scene.
Both Jewish police and a detachment of Roman soldiers come to arrest Jesus (18:3). In John’s Gospel the opposition to Jesus comes from “the world,” both Jewish and GentileA gentile is anyone who is not Jewish. The term, which is derived from words that the Bible uses to denote the "nations" of the world, reflects beliefs that God had designated Israel as a nation that would be distinct from others, and a blessing.... Jesus’ captors come with the latest night-fighting equipment, including lanterns, torches, and weapons. Yet in this encounter Jesus overpowers these agents of the world with the name of God. He repeatedly tells them “I am” (18:5, 6, 8). Although some translations paraphrase this to read “I am he,” there are only two words in Greek: “ego eimi” or “I am,” which recall the traditional name of God (Exodus 3:14).
Although the forces of the world seem to have the upper hand, they are the ones who fallThe Fall refers specifically to the disobedience of Adam and Eve when they listened to Satan rather than adhering to God's command not to eat the fruit from the tree. When people act contrary to God's will, they are said to fall from from grace... to the ground when Jesus speaks the “I am.” It is clear that in this conflict Jesus has the superior power, which comes from God. Jesus’ opponents may have authority from both the highest levels of Jewish and Roman administration, and yet Jesus is the only one who gives an order in this scene. He says, “If you are looking for me, let these men go” (18:8). God’s authority is the superior authority.
John’s account of the arrest shows that Jesus has power from God, and yet Jesus uses it for the sake of others, not for himself. He keeps his captors at bay long enough to secure the release of his disciples, but then his foes bind him and take him away for a trial and execution. Jesus’ actions show that divine power is rightly exercised through self-sacrifice. And this way of exercising power will culminate in crucifixion, where Jesus uses his God-given authority to lay down his life for others.
