Stand Tall!

John 18:⁴ “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.”

John 18:³ “The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him…” The number of soldiers alone, not to talk of the temple guards, that came to arrest Jesus were at least two hundred. A cohort is at least two hundred to six hundred soldiers. Mid-way between two hundred and six hundred is four hundred. Four hundred or more armed and trained soldiers to arrest a Man who does not carry swords or guns. Four hundred soldiers to arrest a man who was not armed and was publicly available.

John 18:^4-6 “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!” Jesus had said clearly that, ‘Nobody takes my life from Me, I lay it down by Myself and I am going to pick it up again. So do not think anyone killed Me, I have to die for you.’ So, when they came, Jesus stepped forward – that is courageous. Jesus went confidently to the cross so that you and I can come boldly to the Throne. Jesus answered, “I am He”; this phrase in the original is “ego eimi” which is translated as either “I Am He” or “I AM that I AM”.

Jesus actually said, I AM and that is huge because in Ex. 3:¹⁴ “God replied to Moses, “I AM who I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.” So, Jesus was declaring Himself to them and they fell. Every time you stand tall and declare yourself, all your enemies fall. It is a prayer, it is a statement, it is a fact; every time you stand tall and declare yourself, all your enemies fall. Why do you think they fell to the ground, what made them fall? Some people have said that when Jesus said, “I AM”, the Roman soldiers ran to take cover, to take a crouching position so they can arrest Jesus very well. And these are Bible scholars – unbelievable. Does that even make sense? Somebody is in front of you, He says “I AM he”, and you are armed to the teeth. Why not just arrest Him immediately?

God is encouraging you and I to stand tall. Stand tall in the face of that situation. Stand tall being who God has made you to be and all your adversaries will fall. Guess what? Judas also fell, because Judas was with them. The side you are on will determine whether you stand or fall. Peter, John, James were standing on Jesus’ side but Judas has crossed to the other side. Luke 17:¹ “Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offense should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” (NKJV]. There would be betrayal but must you be the one that will carry the curse? Is your name written there? I made up my mind to be a loyal person a long time ago and everyone I do life with knows that I am a hundred percent. Will it be abused? Of course, it has been abused several times, but it does not change anything.

Prayer: Father, I stand tall being all that You have made me to be, in Jesus Name. Amen!