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Commentaries
English
John
  
4Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"5They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus said to them, "I am He". Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.6When he said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.


We have no idea how the attackers slipped into the garden. They probably had many lanterns, to find him, in case he thought of escape. Jesus was deep in prayer, his disciples asleep. In prayer he noticed the company nearing along with the betrayer. He made no move to escape, though he knew what awaited him in harsh judgment and torture. He was aware of everything and obedient to the Father. He rose and surrendered to the advancing company; his majesty and honor intact. In truth, it was not Judas who surrendered Jesus, but the Lord who yielded himself for us.
He asked them, "Whom do you seek?" When they uttered his name, he answered in divine terms, "I am He". Anyone with a sense of spiritual insight would realize at once that in Jesus God was standing among men, saying to them what God said to Moses, "I AM". "Do you honestly wish to kill your Savior? I am He, take care what you do. I am the Creator and Redeemer, standing before you."
All the while, Judas was standing around, and these words pierced his heart. This is last occasion he is mentioned in John’s gospel. John does not mention the kiss of Judas or how he committed suicide. John’s primary concern was Jesus, whom he portrays in noble resolve before his enemies. This voluntary surrender in meekness stabbed Judas’ heart for Jesus was ready to die. At that, Judas and the company fell back in shock in the presence of majesty. They were equipped for combat to arrest the accused. Here he was approaching them with the dignity of a high priest on the day of atonement, saying, "I am the One you want." They fell to the ground, and Jesus could have evaded them, but he continued to stand before them.