John 18:6-9

18:6 So when Jesus ¹  said to them, “I am he,” they retreated ²  and fell to the ground. ³  18:7 Then Jesus ⁴  asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 18:8 Jesus replied, ⁵  “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for ⁶  me, let these men ⁷  go.” ⁸  18:9 He said this ⁹  to fulfill the word he had spoken, ¹⁰  “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.” ¹¹ 

[18:6]  ¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:6]  ² tn Grk “moved back” (but here a fairly rapid movement is implied).

[18:6]  ³ sn When Jesus said to those who came to arrest him “I am,” they retreated and fell to the ground. L. Morris says that “it is possible that those in front recoiled from Jesus’ unexpected advance, so that they bumped those behind them, causing them to stumble and fall” (John [NICNT], 743-44). Perhaps this is what in fact happened on the scene; but the theological significance given to this event by the author implies that more is involved. The reaction on the part of those who came to arrest Jesus comes in response to his affirmation that he is indeed the one they are seeking, Jesus the Nazarene. But Jesus makes this affirmation of his identity using a formula which the reader has encountered before in the Fourth Gospel, e.g., 8:24, 28, 58. Jesus has applied to himself the divine Name of Exod 3:14, “I AM.” Therefore this amounts to something of a theophany which causes even his enemies to recoil and prostrate themselves, so that Jesus has to ask a second time, “Who are you looking for?” This is a vivid reminder to the reader of the Gospel that even in this dark hour, Jesus holds ultimate power over his enemies and the powers of darkness, because he is the one who bears the divine Name.

[18:7]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “Jesus answered.”

[18:8]  ⁶ tn Grk “if you are seeking.”

[18:8]  ⁷ tn The word “men” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The translation uses the word “men” here rather than a more generic word like “people” because in context Jesus referred only to the eleven remaining disciples who were loyal to him and were present at his arrest.

[18:8]  ⁸ sn A second time Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he,” identifying himself as the one they are seeking. Jesus also added, “If you are looking for me, let these men go.” Jesus successfully diverted attention from his disciples by getting the soldiers and officers of the chief priests to admit (twice) that it is only him they were after. Even in this hour Jesus still protected and cared for his own, giving himself up on their behalf. By handing himself over to his enemies, Jesus ensured that his disciples went free. From the perspective of the author, this is acting out beforehand what Jesus will actually do for his followers when he goes to the cross.

[18:9]  ⁹ tn The words “He said this” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. There is an ellipsis in the Greek text that must be supplied for the modern English reader at this point.

[18:9]  ¹⁰ sn This expression is similar to John 6:39 and John 17:12.

[18:9]  ¹¹ tn Grk “Of the ones whom you gave me, I did not lose one of them.” The order of the clauses has been rearranged to reflect contemporary English style.