![]() And when Jesus spoke those words, a great blast of God’s power was unleashed - so strong that it literally thrust the troops and police backward, causing them to stagger, wobble, and stumble as they hit the ground hard. ![]() After they announced that they were searching for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus answered them with the words, “I AM” - thus identifying Himself as the “I AM” of the Old Testament. Think of it - 300 to 600 Roman soldiers and a large number of trained temple police had all come laden with weapons, swords, and clubs to help them capture Jesus. Some force unexpectedly, suddenly, and forcefully knocked these troops and temple police flat! The members of this militia that came to arrest Jesus were knocked flat by some kind of force! In fact, the verse says they went backward and fell “to the ground.” The words “to the ground” are taken from the Greek word chamai, which depicts these soldiers falling abruptly and hitting the ground hard. It was used often to depict a person who fell so hard, it appeared that he fell dead or fell like a corpse. The word “fell” is the Greek word pipto, which means to fall. In this case, the words depict the soldiers and temple police staggering and stumbling backward, as if some force has hit them and is pushing them backward. The words “went backward” come from the Greek word aperchomai. The soldiers wanted to know, “Who are you?” They probably expected him to answer, “Jesus of Nazareth” - but instead, He answered, “I AM!” John 18:6 tells us, “As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” A more accurate rendering would be “As soon then as he said unto them, I AM, they went backward and fell to the ground.” Now in John 18:5 and 6, Jesus uses the words ego eimi again. The Greek simply says, “…Ye may believe that I AM!” In both of these cited texts, Jesus strongly and boldly affirmed that He was the Great “I AM” of the Old Testament. In John 13:19, Jesus said, “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.” If you read the King James Version, you will notice the word “he” is italicized, meaning it was supplied by the King James translators and is not in the original. In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Those final words in the verse, “I am,” are the Greek words ego eimi and should be translated, “I AM!” *īut let’s look at the two additional examples of the word ego eimi in the Gospel of John. When the hearers of that day heard those words ego eimi, they immediately recognized them as the very words God used to identify Himself when He spoke to Moses on Mount Horeb in Exodus 3:14. ![]() He told them, “…I am he….” These mighty words come from the Greek words ego eimi, which is more accurately translated, “I AM!” It was not the first time Jesus used this phrase to identify Himself He also used it in John 8:58 and John 13:19. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground” (John 18:4-6). So much explosive strength was released that the power knocked the soldiers flat on their backs! Where did this discharge of power come from, and what released it?Īfter Jesus received Judas’ kiss of betrayal, He stepped forward and asked the crowd of militia, “…Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Just as the Roman soldiers and temple police were preparing to arrest Jesus, a supernatural power was suddenly released that was so strong, it literally knocked an entire band of 300 to 600 soldiers backward and down on the ground! It was as if an invisible bomb had been detonated. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 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.
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