I AM or I am not?
Gospel Reflection for Good Friday of the Lord's Passion, April 18th, 2025
The Good Friday Passion readings are long and heavy, both emotionally and theologically. There are two parts I would like to reflect on, particularly with our narrative today. The reader finds himself or herself in the garden as Jesus is being arrested by what it describes as Judas with a band of soldiers and guards. Jesus asks them, “Whom are you looking for? " The mob replies, “Jesus the Nazorean.” And, so, Jesus answers them, “I AM.”
What is interesting in the narrative periscope of the garden arrest is that Jesus’ reply “I AM,” is mentioned in a Trinitarian way (3 times) in affirmation of His identity as LORD:
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. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM.[1]
There is an interesting phrase that comes next when Jesus asks the garden mob to let his disciples go, “So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.”[2]
It is interesting to note that Judas came with the mob to arrest Jesus, and yet Jesus says He did not lose any who were given to Him. There is a comfort in our election as disciples of Jesus—our answer to His call. We must continue cultivating the theological virtue of Hope that we will be saved, as long as we put our trust in Him.
What happens when fear takes over and we no longer hope in the Gospel and trust in the LORD?
The answer is cold. The answer should scare you. It is damnation—it is hell.
The author of the First Letter to Timothy explains God, “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”[3] If God desires it: How are can there be those damned to hell? Those damned to hell have put their trust in something other—not the LORD. There are many idols in our modern world: Judas chose silver & Peter, in fear, chose his own life.
When the mob approaches Jesus to arrest and put Him to death, our LORD answers, “I AM.” When a maid approaches Peter during Jesus’ trial before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin, Peter answers her question about his discipleship: “I am not.” A stark contrast! When we choose something over God, there is an unraveling of creation—we have been made in the image of God, but does our life reflect this image? God doesn’t lose us. We choose not to follow Him.
There is still hope to be found here on Good Friday; after all, Christians refer to this Friday as Good. In contrast to the death of our LORD and the prospect that we may be lost to Him, remember Jesus’ words: I have not lost any of those you gave me. In the storm of life, let us focus on Jesus Christ.
The Letter to the Hebrews explains Jesus’ mission today:
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”[4]
Jesus continuously looks for His lost sheep, so on this Good Friday, in all this sorrow in commemoration of Jesus’ Passion, let us be reminded of what happens on Sunday. We have been given the grace of being an Easter People!
Peter did not remain unraveled—he did not remain lost to God. He learned, with God’s grace, what is the cost of discipleship:
Jesus asks Peter three times after His resurrection, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”[5]
Ask yourself, presented with all the horror of today’s gospel and our hope as an Easter people, whether you will choose—I mean choose—to follow our LORD.
[1] Jn 18:4–8., NAB-RE
[2] Jn 18:8–9, NAB-RE
[3] , 1 Ti 2:4, ESV-CE
[4] Heb 5:8–9, NAB-RE
[5] Jn 21:17–19, NAB-RE
"What is interesting in the narrative periscope of the garden arrest is that Jesus’ reply “I AM,” is mentioned in a Trinitarian way (3 times) in affirmation of His identity as LORD" You are always teaching me something new. Thanks for this reflection.
Fantastic, excellent!!!!