Revelation of overwhelming power

Near the beginning of today’s reading of the Passion (John 18:1-19:42), our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ displays a revelation of overwhelming power: in the simple words “I am”.

Jesus,
knowing everything that was going to happen to him,
went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.”
He said to them, “I AM.”
Judas his betrayer was also with them.
When he said to them, “I AM,"
they turned away and fell to the ground.

In saying “I am” our Lord was applying the most sacred name of God to himself: a name that has been interpreted to mean the Eternal One and the foundation of all existence.

Truly a revelation of overwhelming power.

Near the end of the reading of the passion, however, is an even more overwhelming revelation of power, as our Lord dies on the cross.

In this account of the Passion, John describes the death of Christ with absolute simplicity, without recounting some of the amazing occurrences recorded by the other Gospel writers, but the power of what Christ reveals goes far, far beyond any of those most amazing things.

In his death is the most overwhelming revelation of power: power that takes away the sin of all the world and all time, power that opens the gates of heaven, power that frees humanity from darkness - the power of God's compassion and love.

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You
Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.