Who Is It You Want?

Crime investigation stories fascinates me. I believe that those who do this kind of job are very clever people. They spend hours, weeks, and months profiling their suspect. They study all possible movements of their suspect, the face, the body language, the voice, etc. before making an arrest.

What the gospel writers made obvious in the arrest of Jesus is the fact that the multitudes of people who came to arrest Jesus in the middle of the night did not know who they were after. Jesus had to ask them twice “Who is you want?” Before the mob arrived (Mark 14:32-42), he prayed in agony or hours in the garden. In John 18:36-37, He said “for this cause I have come.” So, its not like this whole saga was a surprise to Jesus. It is the very reason why he came. And he’s committed to finish it.

He is the kind of Person you want in your life, And this is what I want us to focus on this morning. Perhaps if they listened to what Jesus claimed about himself, they would not want to do anything with his arrest.

Who is it you want?

V4) Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” V5) Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) v6) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. V7) Again he asked them. “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

Luke 22:52-56 - Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with sword. (53) Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with mor than 12 legions of angels? (Matt. 26:55) I sat daily with you, teaching you in the temple, and you did not seize Me. (56) But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM AND FLED.

To the Pharisees, the chief priests, and the onlookers, Jesus is a joke, a blasphemer, a lunatic. But to this guy in John 9:25, 32-33, who was born blind, Jesus was nowhere near those description. To this guy, Jesus is a miracle-worker. He said,

32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. So “I don’t care what you think about Jesus, all I know is, “I was blind but now I see.”

TO THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA, “Jesus is the Messiah (John 4:25-26) If you only knew who is talking to you, he would have given you living water.”

What I want each of us to reflect on this morning is what would be a most appropriate answer if Jesus is to ask you that same question. “Who is it you want?” Give me Jesus, and I’ll be fine.

Jesus makes 7 claims for Himself using 7 different metaphors. (the 7, “I am’s”). He said:

1. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35-40)

Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

In those days, bread is a staple food. You cannot live without bread and Jesus used this metaphor to teach people that He like bread is what you need. It is basic for their survival. As long as you have bread, you’ll live because Jesus provides meaning and purpose for your existence. You’ll say,” I have good life here, I’m alright. I don’t need anything else.” But think long term, in fact think eternal!

Luke 12:20 - ISV

But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you’ve accumulated?’

2. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5)

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Jesus did not mean a problem-free life. Rather, He meant that with Him in your life, you can walk in a dark, painful road with courage. You can face every fear you have while you take a step of faith at stair at a time. Martin Luther King Jr says: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” You trust that it is his hands that pulls you up to the last step. WE see this in the life of the Apostle Paul. He literally lived his life too close to trouble for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everywhere he goes, there is a price tag in his head. He never seemed to get out of a dark life. Yet, he confessed, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” And so, we become more and more like Him.