There is Power in God’s Name and Power in Jesus’ Name. When the Two Names are used together, The Power is so strong humans fall to their knees.
When the soldiers came with Judas to arrest Jesus, “Jesus, knowing what was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’”
(John 18:4)
In order to answer Him, they had to say His Name.
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
(Get ready, because here comes the one, two punch.)
“I AM He,” Jesus said. (And Judas, the traitor, was standing there with them..)
When Jesus said “I AM He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:5-6
But Jesus was not done. Picture the scene. They were on the ground.
Again He asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM He. So if you seek Me, let these men go.”
John 18:7-8
Jesus’ Mission was defined again at that moment. He was not a victim. He was there in All Power and Authority to save. He allowed the soldiers to take Him to the next stop on the journey to the cross.
Peter remained outside the door of the high priest’s courtyard, while Jesus was taken inside. A servant girl recognized him and asked,
“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples, are you?”
John 18:17
Peter had the opportunity to reply with all The Power of God’s Name. However, at that moment, satan had the victory. Remember how Jesus described satan.
“When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44
Peter lied. Peter replied, “I am not.”
John 18:17
Peter said the same thing on two more occasions when he was asked if he was a follower of Jesus. “I am not.”
The stronger the lie, the weaker the man. Satan, having convinced Peter to lie, to deny and to desert, was standing ready to accuse Peter. His next step would be to try to convince Peter that Jesus had lied to him.
Peter remembered that day when Jesus had asked His Followers who people were saying He was. They told Him of the various speculations — Elijah, John The Baptist, Jeremiah, one of the prophets.
But then Jesus had made it personal.
“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I AM?”
Matthew 16:15
Peter remembered how the hair had stood up on the back of his neck when Jesus said, “I AM.” There was a kind of electricity in the air.
Peter remembered the moment he knew. He didn’t “think.” He didn’t “believe.” He knew! Time seemed to have stopped. The world became just Peter and Jesus. Peter had blurted out,
“You are The Messiah, The Son of The Living God!” (Matthew 16:16)
In the glow of Jesus’ Face that day, a miraculous thing had happened. Jesus had blessed him. And Jesus told Peter who he (Peter, then called Simon) was.
Jesus replied, “ Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed by flesh and blood, but by My Father in Heaven.
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:17-19
Peter had not understood it that day, but he knew it was true. It was true not because of what he thought. It was true because The One Who was Truth said it was true.
Later Peter had gone over all of it again in his head. He said “I AM Peter. I AM the rock upon which Jesus will build His Church. I AM given The Keys to The Kingdom.” Every time he said it, he felt Power flowing through him.
But satan was waiting. He was shaking the Gates of Hades and waiting for the right moment.
The opportune moment came right after Peter lied about being a follower of Jesus. When Peter attempted to disconnect himself from The Truth, satan was ready. He came against every Truth Peter had ever known.
He enticed Peter to think “I am not a rock. I am not strong enough for anything to be built on me. I am not the keeper of the keys to the kingdom. I am not in Jesus’ Favor anymore. I am not feeling His Presence. I have fallen so far I am not able to ever get back to Jesus.”
Peter might have perished under the weight of his “ I am not” thinking except for The One Who prayed for him and knocked the “not” away, so Peter could see the great I AM again.
At the last supper Peter had promised he would be the one who would never leave Jesus. But Jesus had told Peter The Truth. His heart was in the right place, but his spirit had some growing to do.
“Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22: 31-32
Jesus knew Peter would fall in his human weakness, but Jesus also saw the day when Peter would turn back and become everything God had created Him to be.
Perhaps you have fallen under the weight of satan’s lies and turned to “I am not” thinking. Repent for misusing God’s Name. Turn back.
Ask God to reveal Who you are in Him. Who did He create you to be? Begin a sentence with God’s Name of “I AM” and let Him finish the sentence.
When you know Who He is, you will know who you are and you will know why you are here!
Who is He?
“I AM The Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have The Light of Life.”
John 8:12
Who are you?
“You are The Light of the world… let your Light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:14 and 16
