The Rocks Will Cry Out

Before we begin to consider the ignoble details of the trials of Jesus, I want to focus our attention on one short scene in Gethsemane. We need to keep this startling moment in mind as we behold the horrors of Jesus approaching the cross. This scene tells us exactly who Jesus is, was and will be. It also tells our proper response to this revelation.

John 18:5-8 explains, “Judas, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there (Gethsemane) with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” When therefore He said to them, “I am He.” They drew back and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He.”….”

Before we go any further I want you to notice that the word He is in parentheses in our Bibles. This means this word is not in the original manuscript but was placed there by the translators to help make sense. Jesus actually said, “I am”.

These words compelled the soldiers to retreat and fall to the ground. The soldiers, armed and on a mission to arrest Jesus became immobile. They were stunned, literally floored, their weak knees gave way as they drew backwards and fell to the ground. Why? Why did this happen when Jesus simply said “I am.”?

In Greek “I am” is “Ego eimi”. Eimi means I exist, I am, I have been, I was, I will be. He is claiming to be eternal and therefore, divine. Jesus made this same statement in John 8:24 when he said, “Unless you believe that ego eimi - I am — you shall die in your sins.” And again in John 8:28, “When you lift up the Son of Man then you will know that ego eimi— I am…” And in John 8:58, “before Abraham was born, ego eimi— I am.”

We may miss his point, but the Pharisees who were there that day didn’t. They knew he had committed blasphemy; when he said “I am” he was claiming to be the eternal God who saw Abraham in the flesh. They picked up rocks with which to stone him; stoning was the appropriate punishment for committing blasphemy.

These words “I am” can be traced all the way back to Exodus 3. Remember when God called Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt? Moses was intimidated by the unbelieving Israelites he was called to lead. He was not sure they would follow him. Moses wondered how he would answer their inevitable question, “Who sent you to us and what is His name?" “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”” and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”” In Hebrew this name is YHWH, in English, Jehovah or Yahweh.

The name Jehovah relates to the Hebrew verb havah which means to be, being, essence, permanent existence. I AM. The root letters of Jehovah contain every tense of the verb to be, I was, I am, I will be. I AM is the one who stands outside of time, he is the self-existent one without ending or beginning. He is living, in fact, living is never used as an adjective connected to Jehovah, that would be redundant. This name, unlike most of the other names for God, is not associated with his works, but with his being. Jehovah refers to his essence, his substance, he always was, he always is and he is ever to come. Jehovah is consistent and constant. He is absolute and unchangeable, immutable.

Now fast forward from the time of Moses to the time of Christ. The name YHWH was considered too holy to be uttered by human lips. The only time it could be declared aloud was once a year, on the most high holy day, the Day of Atonement. The only person who could mention this name was the High Priest. According to the Mishnah something interesting happened when the High Priest uttered this name. As he asked God to forgive the sins of Israel he called upon YHWH. He laid his hands on the scapegoat, symbolically placing the sins of the people on the animal. He then released it to die in the wilderness. As the priests and people heard the High Priest utter the name YHWH they all fell to their knees then prostrated themselves, falling on their faces in worship, blessing the holy name.

How appropriate that in the Garden of Gethsemane just before the sins of the world were placed upon Jesus, just before he was sent outside the city walls to die, Jesus declared “I am” and whoever heard him fell to the ground.

Earlier when Jesus came to Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday the people praised God joyfully with a loud voice as they laid coats and palm leaves in his path. The Pharisees were disgusted and demanded that Jesus rebuke the people. He answered, “If these become silent, the rocks will cry out!” Luke 19:40. I think something similar is going on in Gethsemane. These men who came to arrest Jesus probably didn’t know who he was nor were they seeking a savior. But they fell prostrate before him when he revealed his divine, eternal identity. His words carried power, authority and majesty. Their response was entirely appropriate. Their actions were necessary. If they didn’t fall to the ground, the rocks would cry out.

Dear Lord,
When we behold you we are on holy ground. You are the great I AM, the one who stands outside of time. You took on our sins on the cross where you died outside the city. Your love for us is unquenchable. May you keep our hearts tender so we are ever ready to fall before you in worship and adoration.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen