Confirming (phase 3), - Gethsemane (step 24) - session 4

I AM

Jn 18:1-11

Well, unfortunately the RSV translation doesn't render verse 5 the same way that the NAB does. But I have read elsewhere that Jesus was definitely invoking the tetragrammaton and this is why they drew back and fell to the ground. Perhaps they expected God to immediately relieve them of the responsibility of putting Jesus to death and none of them wanted to be caught by the lightning flash.

So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. - (3)

The council feared that Jesus would try to become king, or would allow the people to try to make him king. Perhaps they thought him more like themselves. They must have been afraid that, if he wasn't gathering an army, he'd at least assembled a protective guard. Judas knew that Jesus wouldn't be alone, so they took no chances. The only armed force Jesus had was Peter and his sword. He wasn't much of an army!

We, too often, also put up a small army of resistance against Jesus, enough to ensure that we will have our way against what we perceive to be his will, to which we do not wish to submit.

Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"  - (4)

We are asked this questions every day, in the face of our own trials. When we dare to say that we seek him, Jesus likewise says to us, "I AM." (I want to expound on those two words, but they're already complete.) Do we have the good sense to fall on our knees before that Truth?

Of those whom thou gavest me I lost not one. - (9b)

This remains true. This verse is one of the foundations of the "once-saved-always-saved" dogma. I don't think that's what Jesus meant.

But if Fr. Satish and Rob Bell and Fr. Neuhaus are right in suggesting that Hell might be empty of human souls, then once-saved-always-saved is actually true, too. I agree with Fr. Neuhaus; we may not have sufficient grounds to believe this is true, but we should hope as much. If we don't, it is because we underestimate our own sin and we misunderstand grace.