I Am Who Your Looking For

John 18: 1-8 (NLT) After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said“I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”

This season as I was getting ready for Easter, I found myself reading John 18 late one night to my kids as I put them to bed. Even though I have read through the New Testament a number of times and attended more Easter Sunday services than I can remember it felt as though I was reading this passage for the very first time. The words just jumped of the page like they never have before. There are a few simple truths I found as I read this passage I want to share with you this evening. 

First, Jesus knowing fully what was going to happen later in the evening took time in prayer with God in a quiet place. The Garden of Gethsemane was a place Jesus came to often to escape the chaos of his daily life to spend time talking with God. Judas knew where to find Jesus, because Jesus went to the garden often to be alone with God. Where is the place you like to go to hear God's voice?

Next, I love Jesus playfulness in this passage. You see Judas did not come with just a small group to get Jesus. Judas had with him Roman soldiers as well as temple guards armed with torches and swords to arrest Jesus. Think for a moment Jesus had gone to the garden to pray and as he stands up he sees all the lights and people entering the garden coming to get Him. Yet, he playfully ask who they are looking for. The stunned mob says they are looking for Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answer is simple and to the point. I Am he. What happen next blew me away. Everyone in the garden including all those who came to arrest him fell to the ground at Jesus feet. Again, Jesus ask who are you looking for, and I wonder if those who have come to arrest Him have even had time to get to their feet to reply to him a second time. Why was His answer so powerful?

"I Am," is how God identified himself to Moses and to the Egyptians. It was the great "I Am" who parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass through, yet crushed the Egyptians in the waters of the Red Sea as the waves washed over them. It is "I Am" who was the protector of Abraham as he left his own country to follow God. You can see the name "I Am" carries with it tremendous power, and is used throughout the Bible (http://www.freewebs.com/brucedurbinonlinescripture/7iamsofjesus.htm). Even the Roman soldier fell at Jesus feet because he spoke with amazing authority. 

So, prior to being put on trial and beaten and hanging on a cross one could not help and acknowledge Jesus is God and is the ruler of all. Who is God to you today? Is He your great "I Am" that you praise or have you pushed Him aside for the things of this world? It is clear to me with this passage Jesus makes it clear who He is and who He will always be. The question that remains is what will we do with Jesus. 

Your brother in Christ, 
Mike 

Too Busy to Listen to the Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT) “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Have you ever felt so caught up in the busyness of life that you forget to make time to hear the gentle whispers of God's voice speaking to you? I know I have felt that way many times before, and if you have too you are not alone. The prophet Elijah after having soundly defeated all of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel ran away in fear and hid in a cave. God sent a mighty windstorm, earthquake, and a blazing fire to get Elijah's attention, but he was not in any of these great displays of power. He instead chose to speak to Elijah in the still small quiet voice of a whisper. Psalm 67:10a (NLT) says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Jesus provides us with one way to hear the still small voice of God, and I will provide you with another way I have learned through the course of my life. Scripture repeatedly tells us of Jesus breaking away from those around him both morning and evening to spend time alone in prayer and meditation with God. I firmly believe in the chaos of our daily lives it is vital to make time for reading scripture and engaging God in prayer. In my life, I have best heard the still small voice of God when I was committed to daily reading of His word and journaling the small messages he provided me. It is in the multiplication of those small messages where His truth in my life has been revealed. I know if you devote yourself to studying the word of God everyday for thirty days He will let you hear His still small voice. Are you ready to take the challenge?

Your brother in Christ,
Mike