Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 18:5

"They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them." — John 18:5 (ASV)

The author has emphasized Jesus’ consciousness of surrounding circumstances and his own destiny (cf. Jn 6:64; 13:1, 3, 11, 18). He was not taken unwillingly or by surprise. For a long time he had been aware of the plot against his life and, had he wished, he could have escaped (cf. 10:40; 11:54). Now “the time” had come (cf. 17:1). He did not wait to be apprehended but voluntarily confronted his enemies.

In the darkness of the garden they were not sure which man they wanted. So in answer to his question they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” John omits the signal of Judas and mentions only Jesus’ own statement for the identification. That reply startled the arresting party by its openness and readiness and possibly because it was like the claim he had made previously: “I am” (8:24, 28, 58). If it were intended as an assertion of deity, his calm demeanor and commanding presence temporarily unnerved his captors.