I was reminded of Pascal’s statement in light of this passage. In the context of this account concerning Jesus’ arrest, Jesus asked those coming to arrest Him, “whom do you seek?” Jesus didn’t ask the question, because Jesus felt the soldiers were lost and needed help. Jesus knew exactly why the soldiers and religious leaders were there. Jesus asked the question for the purpose of revelation. It was Jesus’ intention to reveal His divinity to a group of people that only saw His humanity. The soldiers disclosed how they perceived Jesus, “they answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.” They were seeking Jesus the man, the riotous zealot who was causing trouble. These soldiers had no idea that they were standing in the presence of the Great I AM.
Jesus intentionally chose to use His divine name as God, “I AM.” This is the same name that was given to Moses in Exodus 3:14. I AM is the great self-disclosure statement of God to man. Jesus was stating that in every way, He is God. Jesus’ revelation caused a physical reaction in that the soldiers stumbled backwards out of fear. Why would Jesus reveal His divinity and power at His arrest? Because it was important that everyone knew, even Judas the betrayer, who Jesus really is, the Great I AM. The soldiers came seeking a man and they came face to face with God.
Whom do you seek? When you see Jesus whom do you see, a myth, a teacher, a miracle worker or God in the flesh. If you seek Jesus, the Great I Am, not only will He reveal Himself to you but you will be blown away by His power and presence. Seek Jesus; He is the Great I AM!