Good Friday, John 18:1-19:42
March 29, 2024
Pastor Jonathan Linman, Faith-La Fe Lutheran Church
They came to the garden looking for Jesus to arrest him. When the soldiers and police arrived on the scene, Jesus asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” When they said, “Jesus of Nazareth,” three times we hear Jesus’ words, “I AM he.” “I AM he.” “I AM he.” It’s a kind of mantra that drives home the point: “I AM.”
After one of those answers, they all stepped back and fell to the ground, as well they should have in Jesus’ holy presence.
For remember that “I AM” is a designation for God in the Hebrew bible. Here’s how it reads in the book of Exodus: “But Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14)
In remembering what Jesus said in the garden to those seeking to arrest him – “I AM he” – John is making a significant point about his understanding of Jesus in connection with almighty God. In short, Jesus and God are one and the same.
Remember how John’s Gospel begins his testimony about Jesus as the Word of God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-2, 14)
Jesus’ replying, “I AM he” to the soldiers and police in the garden as he was being betrayed and arrested hearkens back to all of these scriptures that reveal the holy significance and divine presence in Jesus. Again, John is making the point that the one being arrested in this story and being led to death is the “I AM” who is God. No wonder those arresting him fell to the ground….
And this three-fold reply, “I AM he,” also connects us with several other “I AM” statements that John reports in his gospel that Jesus made about himself.
Remember these beloved and comforting statements of Jesus recorded by the gospel writer John, and let’s consider them in light of Good Friday and the cross:
Jesus said, “I AM the Light of the world” – this light shines most brightly, paradoxically, in the darkness and shadows of the crucifixion. This glorious light illuminates the darkness of our worst days, showing us that all is not lost, not even the most seemingly Godforsaken circumstances like those of Good Friday.
Jesus said, “I AM the door” – the cross of Christ becomes a portal, an open door, for it is Jesus himself, hanging on the tree of the cross, who is the true access point for forgiveness and salvation and life eternal.
Jesus said, “I AM the good shepherd” – it’s only the good shepherds who lay down their life for the sheep, risking all to rescue the ones gone astray. Jesus as our good shepherd is most clearly seen on the cross, where he gives up everything for our sake, rescuing, redeeming us as his lost sheep.
Jesus said, “I AM the resurrection and the life” – indeed, it is the cross that ultimately paves the way to the resurrection which leads to new life, not only for Christ but also for us. Without the cross, there’s no resurrection and there’s no life.
Jesus said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life” – like the door, the way is made through the cross. And this way leads to the ultimate truth. And this truth is all about life – life eternal for all who come to believe and trust in Jesus. The cross is the way. The cross reveals the truth about God. The cross ultimately leads to life.
Jesus said, “I AM the true vine” – and the true vine is, in fact, the tree of the cross, the tree whose leaves never die and fall away, the tree that bears the fruit of eternal life.
Finally, Jesus said, “I AM the bread of life” – and this bread is made from the fruit of the tree of the cross. From the cross we receive the bread of life, Jesus himself. Listen to Jesus’ own words: “I am the bread of life…. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh…. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:48,51, 54)
On the cross, in other words, we see it all: light of the world; the door; the good shepherd; resurrection and life; the way, the truth, and the life; the true vine; the bread of life – all attributes of the great I AM who is Jesus, the great “I AM” who is God.
Like those who came for Jesus in the garden who fell to the ground at Jesus’ divine presence, we, too, will have our own opportunity to fall to the ground in worship and adoration of the great “I AM” on the cross as tonight’s liturgy concludes…. Amen.
