The reality of the Resurrection of Our Lord promises us that light overcomes darkness, life overcomes death, truth prevails, and sacrificial love changes everything.
_____
We look all around us and see ruination, destruction, craziness, darkness, inversion and subversion. We know in our heart that the Cross of Christ is our only hope and it is not even just a hope in our earthly life, but a Truth that makes everything somehow make sense and realize that it is One Who came into this world for the purpose of giving each one of us have a real hope of eternal life in Heaven.
______
John 1:5
“and the light shines on in the darkness and darkness could not overcome it.”
When Jesus told them, "I AM," they backed away and fell to the ground.
I don't think this was an act of "cowardice" as you put it.
Jesus' made a power statement: I AM. And they fell to the ground -- they didn't run away like cowards. They literally fell to the ground from the power of that I AM statement. Jesus had to repeat himself by saying "who do you seek?" - so they were still there.
Wonderful piece. I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
Thanks SAMO. I appreciate your remark and your continued readership. Still, I think you're wrong here, but I'm glad to have the discussion and it certainly isn't something I'll roll my eyes at and simply discount; cause I think your point is reasonable. Totally can see how you can come to that conclusion.
Nonetheless, all, or at least the vast majority of, these people who came to Jesus in the garden knew of him. They knew of his preaching in the synagogue. They knew of his miracles. They knew of Lazarus recently being raised from the dead by him.
It's why Jesus said, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.” (Matthew 26:55)
I still don't think they fell to the ground because of him boldly proclaiming he was who they sought. Many of the crew with Judas likely already knew who it was they were to seize. Judas was just the trusted CHS to make certain they got their right guy.
They reeled back because they were afraid. They came in such vast numbers (the cohort [most likely just the “on duty” piece of those 600 or so soldiers, so maybe 200]), the temple police, and other accusers along with Judas because they were scared. They knew, because they saw, that he could do all sorts of miracles, that he could likely tell them to “freeze like a statue” and they would.
They were not ready for the most powerful person to ever live, because he was truly God and truly man, to simply comply with their tyranny. But he did. So he could be marched to that cross and murdered on our behalf. I think be made the statement that he was who they sought simple. I don't think he added any extra power to it.
Jesus was saying that he protected the disciples from being arrested, so he would not lose any of them, thus fulfilling the promises he made earlier (John 6:39-40; 44; 10:28; 17:12). He knew that being arrested and perhaps imprisoned or executed was more than they could bear, and it could shatter their faith. So he made sure it did not happen. All believers are weak and vulnerable if not protected by the Lord. But he will never let us be tempted beyond what they can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
I'll stop now because I'm on the verge of a whole new post! Haha. Love ya, SAMO, and thanks for taking us a bit deeper here. Hopefully it'll be useful for others as well.
Can we agree to disagree? I hope so. To my thinking, 200-600 soldiers do not simultaneously fall from fear or cowardice. If you have ever seen or experienced someone falling under the power of Holy Spirit - they drop like a stone - it's like their body has a short circuit and they drop. That's what I see when I read that passage.
Ot course we can! The discourse here is far superior to other platforms, imo. Although I don't fully see it your way, I believe your point reasonable and understandable. I'm also open to bring wrong. I've been wrong before and will be again 😂
What a beautiful writing!
The reality of the Resurrection of Our Lord promises us that light overcomes darkness, life overcomes death, truth prevails, and sacrificial love changes everything.
_____
We look all around us and see ruination, destruction, craziness, darkness, inversion and subversion. We know in our heart that the Cross of Christ is our only hope and it is not even just a hope in our earthly life, but a Truth that makes everything somehow make sense and realize that it is One Who came into this world for the purpose of giving each one of us have a real hope of eternal life in Heaven.
______
John 1:5
“and the light shines on in the darkness and darkness could not overcome it.”
One little point --
John 18:6 - International Standard Version --
When Jesus told them, "I AM," they backed away and fell to the ground.
I don't think this was an act of "cowardice" as you put it.
Jesus' made a power statement: I AM. And they fell to the ground -- they didn't run away like cowards. They literally fell to the ground from the power of that I AM statement. Jesus had to repeat himself by saying "who do you seek?" - so they were still there.
Wonderful piece. I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.
Thanks SAMO. I appreciate your remark and your continued readership. Still, I think you're wrong here, but I'm glad to have the discussion and it certainly isn't something I'll roll my eyes at and simply discount; cause I think your point is reasonable. Totally can see how you can come to that conclusion.
Nonetheless, all, or at least the vast majority of, these people who came to Jesus in the garden knew of him. They knew of his preaching in the synagogue. They knew of his miracles. They knew of Lazarus recently being raised from the dead by him.
It's why Jesus said, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.” (Matthew 26:55)
I still don't think they fell to the ground because of him boldly proclaiming he was who they sought. Many of the crew with Judas likely already knew who it was they were to seize. Judas was just the trusted CHS to make certain they got their right guy.
They reeled back because they were afraid. They came in such vast numbers (the cohort [most likely just the “on duty” piece of those 600 or so soldiers, so maybe 200]), the temple police, and other accusers along with Judas because they were scared. They knew, because they saw, that he could do all sorts of miracles, that he could likely tell them to “freeze like a statue” and they would.
They were not ready for the most powerful person to ever live, because he was truly God and truly man, to simply comply with their tyranny. But he did. So he could be marched to that cross and murdered on our behalf. I think be made the statement that he was who they sought simple. I don't think he added any extra power to it.
Jesus was saying that he protected the disciples from being arrested, so he would not lose any of them, thus fulfilling the promises he made earlier (John 6:39-40; 44; 10:28; 17:12). He knew that being arrested and perhaps imprisoned or executed was more than they could bear, and it could shatter their faith. So he made sure it did not happen. All believers are weak and vulnerable if not protected by the Lord. But he will never let us be tempted beyond what they can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
I'll stop now because I'm on the verge of a whole new post! Haha. Love ya, SAMO, and thanks for taking us a bit deeper here. Hopefully it'll be useful for others as well.
Can we agree to disagree? I hope so. To my thinking, 200-600 soldiers do not simultaneously fall from fear or cowardice. If you have ever seen or experienced someone falling under the power of Holy Spirit - they drop like a stone - it's like their body has a short circuit and they drop. That's what I see when I read that passage.
OK - awaiting the new post...
Ot course we can! The discourse here is far superior to other platforms, imo. Although I don't fully see it your way, I believe your point reasonable and understandable. I'm also open to bring wrong. I've been wrong before and will be again 😂
Thank you Jeannon 🙌
Christ is our only hope indeed!
Parallels of the human condition remain to this day, but also the continuation of the Lord's courage & love.✝️
p.s. you & Heidi must be doing alot of things right. The response from Iris was certainly wise beyond her years.