by Jordyn van Gaalen

In The Presence of God

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“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’
‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied.
‘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 18:4-6  New International Version

The soldiers and chief priests and Pharisees came to capture the man they had been watching and testing and plotting against. They arrived in the garden, guided by Judas with an agenda to take Jesus by force. They came at night carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. 

Though they were prepared to make an arrest, none could stand in the presence of Jesus as He spoke the rarely uttered words “I AM.” They were confronted with the reality of otherworldly awe and majesty. Revealed in the words “Yahweh,” they were face to face with the presence of God. 

This account in John reminded me of when Moses first met God in the burning bush.

“Then [God] said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.”
Exodus 3:6 NIV

God establishes His name for the first time in this event with Moses.

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 NIV

Jesus, the Son of God, makes His identity known with those same words “I AM.” Hearing “Yahweh” sent the crowd of captors to the ground, swords and torches in hand. 

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, because of the blood He shed in our place, we can now stand in the presence of God. Jesus has become our mediator, the curtain of the Holy of Holies has been torn. 

Yet let us not forget what it means to stand in the awe and majesty and grandeur of a King that sits on a Heavenly throne. A God that spoke the earth into existence, that breathed life into man. The God that caused Moses to cover His face in fear and the God that sent soldiers to the ground in awe and fear. As we enter the presence of God in prayer, let us not forget the sacrifice Jesus endured in order to make that possible.

We worship a God of unmistakable power and glory and brilliance.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado