Welcome to Tuesday’s Podcast. Our reading today is John 18: 1-18 but today I’ll focus on verse 4-5:

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.)

REFLECTION:

This is an extract from John Wesley’s diary:

Sunday, A.M., May 5 – Preached in St. Anne’s. Was asked not to come back any more.

Sunday, P.M., May 5 – Preached in St. John’s. Deacons said “Get out and stay out.”

Sunday, A.M., May 12 – Preached in St. Jude’s. Can’t go back there, either.

Sunday, A.M., May 19 – Preached in St. Somebody Else’s. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return.

Sunday, P.M., May 19 – Preached on street. Kicked off street.

Sunday, A.M., May 26 – Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during service.

Sunday, A.M., June 2 – Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway.

Sunday, P.M., June 2 – Afternoon, preached in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.’

It’s hard to know if this really is an excerpt from Wesley’s diary but knowing something of Wesley’s life it was littered with battles and breakthroughs. There are enough American Methodists who seem to think it’s legit.

Life doesn’t always work out as planned!

In my final year at University I applied for a job in London. Interview day arrived and I brought the cheapest train ticket I could afford and arrived in London before the shops opened. My day was spent walking around London & riding the Tube. Daydreaming about what life might hold in the capital city. I arrived in plenty of time for the interview. I was dressed smart and thought I was feeling pretty confident. At the end of the interview the interviewers stepped outside.

After what seemed like an age they returned to the room I was sat in. I remember those words ‘I’m really sorry…’ just went swirling around my mind…

The plan was up in smoke. I had no idea what next. In these moments people will often say: God has a plan or God’s in control. Over the years I’ve found this to be true – Proverbs 16:9 says this: ‘We may plan our course but the Lord determines our steps’.

The context of today’s passage is Jesus’ arrest. A seriously difficult moment made worse by the betrayal of a friend. As moments go in life – this isn’t good a good one.

But within it there’s hope. Let me explain.

As the Roman soldiers accompanied by some Priests and Pharisees approach – Jesus asks who they’re looking for: ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’

Jesus knows everything that is going on. His divinity means he knows what they’re thinking. He knows the future.

And his response to the men is this: ‘I am he’, accurately translated he just says ‘I am’.

In the midst of the bad situation: the arrest, the betrayal the upcoming trials and tribulations – he says ‘I am’.

So what?

There are seven ‘I am’ references in John’s gospel, each one revealing Jesus’ divinity & subsequent power. When God reveals himself to Moses he describes his name as ‘I am’ – it’s a deeply powerful reference to God.

The circumstance may be tough but God’s power is bigger. In our lives, in tough times, we call on one who is sovereign. God is powerful and can work in and through and use all the circumstances of life.

There’s a great song by Aaron Keyes which includes these lines:

‘Even what the enemy means for evil

You turn it for our good, You turn it for our good and for your glory’

Looking back 20 years I can see that getting knocked back in that job interview was really significant. But I can see it was God’s plan because I wouldn’t be here today at STC if I’d got the job – that difficult interview feedback set me on a whole new cours...