“Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’” John 18:4

Soul Satisfaction

This little verse struck me this morning as I thought about how Jesus walked into the gruesome ordeal ahead of Him with His eyes wide open. He ran to danger. He gallantly took His stand in the Father’s will and went forward to fearlessly face all the evil the world and the devil could throw at Him. In essence He said, “Take your best shot. Here I am.” What a God! What a Savior!

He asks them then, “Whom are you seeking?” That is a penetrating question we need to be asking ourselves all the time. Am I seeking the glory of God? Am I seeking the Giver and not the gifts? Am I seeking the Father’s will, or my own? For the unbeliever He is asking who will meet their deepest need. Have the things of this world satisfied? Whom are you seeking?

Three times He declares Himself the I AM (see verses 5, 6 and 8). God had declared Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM.” He proclaimed Himself to be the Eternal One, uncaused and independent (Exodus 3:14). The word “He” that follows that phrase “I AM” in John is in italics which indicates it was added. So powerful were these statements that this revealed glory caused the soldiers to draw back and fall to the ground.

Then in verse 8, He asks that the soldiers let His disciples go. Therein is a picture of our salvation. Jesus went forward in my place. Jesus bore the brunt of sin and judgment while I was let go. I was made safe and secured by the dauntless love of God.

Jesus is the soul satisfaction we all long for and He’s right here. Will we recognize and acknowledge the great I AM? This Easter celebrate the One who has championed us. This is His triumph and this is His glory.

“Father, thank You for loving us with a love so fierce neither hell nor death could hold You. You are worthy to be praised. We will seek You all our days. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”