John 18:6 Commentary and Bible Study

They shrank back and then they fell to the ground as though struck by lightening, or a tremendous wind had swept through. A vast company – Roman soldiers used to withstanding fierce enemies, used to charges and assaults even against cavalry, used to dealing with the mob, fearless and powerful, and yet there they all are, the whole crowd, including Judas, everybody, including the official representative of the high Priest named Malchus, they are sprawling on the ground. That was just a great exhibition of Christ’s power. It’s not without significance that he replies, ‘I am he.’ He announces himself in line with the other uses of the term as God himself, and they fell backwards. Well, why did he do this? He was going to allow himself to be arrested within the next five minutes in apparent weakness. Why did he exert this amazing power? It’s a miracle, of course, that all who come to arrest him find themselves floundering hopeless on the ground. It isn’t recorded in the other Gospels but John’s inspired assignment is to show the dignity, the foreknowledge, the divinity of Christ. It proves that Christ could have avoided arrest had he wanted to. It’s just a demonstration of his power before he allows himself to be arrested. So we say he wasn’t arrested by force; he wasn’t arrested against his will; he volunteered himself because it was the purpose for which he had come. He demonstrates they are all in his hand if he desires it. This was probably done to strengthen the disciples. They are going to go through some harrowing hours; they are going to see him nailed to a cross; they are going to be in great doubt. They have been warned of these things, but they don’t fully understand them, but surely this is to sustain them. ‘He could have avoided arrest. What he said to us he meant – these things are going to happen to him. We saw it. We saw this amazing exertion of power, yet he went voluntarily.’