October 12, 2023
Divine Protection
“So when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ And they said, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,’ to fulfill the word which He spoke, ‘Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.’” John 18:6-9 (NASB)
Strange things can happen. Some you can’t explain. One night, my friend was on a ride-along. He said, “Every time I ride with you it is boring.” Within a few minutes, I received a call. It was a domestic disturbance. A male had just been released from a mental institution. He was on cocaine and off his medication. The girlfriend (whom he met in the institution) was also off her medications. Both were drunk. When I arrived, the woman ran out. I told my friend, “You wanted something to do; go with her.” The girlfriend said, “My boyfriend said he will kill anyone who comes through that door.” So I knocked and waited for a waited for a response. I entered after speaking through the door for a few minutes. I wasn’t sure what weapons might be inside. As I entered, a 6’03, 315-pound male covered in jail tattoos, had blood streaming down his arms in the living room. He used a broken bottle and cut his arms vertically, trying to kill himself. I took a few minutes to calm him by assuring him I was there to help. Shortly after, I began to hear police car sirens. I told the man I wanted to handcuff him for his safety. As he started to turn around, he said “What if I decide not to?” It seemed an eternity waiting. I said a few words to him about others arriving and bad things happening. He placed his other hand behind his back. God intervened. I was with a person who couldn’t have been easily subdued. I thanked God after for His protection. It could have been life-changing for both of us.
“So when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them,” Roman soldiers had never encountered Jesus before this time. They had heard of him but never met Him. Judas was there to snitch on Him, along with the priests. But why did they fall back when Jesus responded? “Commentators cite various instances of the confusion of the enemies of innocent men before the calmness and dignity of their victims, how much more was this likely to be the case when He in whom was no sin, and who spake as never man spake, came forth to meet His implacable foes as the self-sacrificing Lamb of God.”[1] Whether it was a miracle or not, no one can doubt the power with which Jesus spoke (see also John 7:45-46). His power by whatever means was enough to set those who came for him backward. I believe when God speaks, people know they are in the presence of Someone with Authority. Jesus interceded previously for the disciples in prayer (John 17:1-26). Now, He interceded on their behalf physically as He said, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” They were satisfied with His answer as they left the disciples.
A few hours after with the man at the ER, he finally (with meds) calmed down. Doctors said they couldn’t do anything else, or he would die. The man later said he was sorry and didn’t mean to hurt anyone. He was a different human being. I remember thinking that he couldn’t do what God wouldn’t allow. God intervened. My friend never commented that he was bored riding with me after that night. He never rode with me again either.
[1] Alford, H. (1976). Alford’s Greek Testament: an exegetical and critical commentary (Vol. 1, p. 884). Guardian Press.