Dear Refiner's Fire...

I have a question about John 18:6, story of Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane: "As soon then as He had said unto them, 'I am [He]', they went backward, and fell to the ground." It seems many people attempt to use that verse when people question them about being "slain in the Spirit" - the condition where, when touched by a pastor or some church elder, they all fall backward. How would you respond to this?

Our Response....

People who insist that "slain in the spirit" includes "falling backwards" don't know the Scriptures, because no believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob throughout the Scriptures ever "fell backwards" during their worship of Him! They always "fell forward" onto their faces! (See passages such as Genesis 18:2, 24:26, 24:48; Luke 5:8 and Matthew 26:39, to mention just a few.)

The scripture you cited was NOT referring to worship; it was referring to Roman soldiers who were taken aback once they discovered whom they they about to arrest:

John 18: 1. Y'shua spoke these things and he went out with his disciples to the other side of the brook of Qidrun to a place which had a garden where he entered, he and his disciples. 2. Now Yehuda, the traitor, had also known that place because Y'shua would assemble there many times with his disciples. 3. Therefore Yehuda took a unit of soldiers and some men from the chief priests and Pharisees. He took guards and came there with torches and lamps and weapons. 4. But Y'shua, because he had known all things that came upon him, went out and said to them, Whom do you seek? 5. They said to him, "Y'shua the Nasraya."[1] Y'shua said to them, I am he. Now Yehuda the traitor was also standing among them. 6. And when Y'shua said to them that "I am he," they went backwards and fell upon the ground. 7. Y'shua asked them again, Whom do you seek? And they said "Y'shua the Nasraya." 8. Y'shua said to them, I have told you that I am he, and if you do seek me, allow these to go. 9. That might be fulfilled (according to) the word which he said that "Those whom you have given to me I have not lost even one of them." (AENT)

This passage could mean several things:

• They were Roman guards, not believers, and so they weren't worshipping Him.
  
  
• They were totally astonished and petrified to find out whom they were arresting and, perhaps, passed out from fear.
  
  
• "They went backward and fell onto the ground" doesn't necessarily mean they fell backwards; they simply backed off and/or fell for whatever reason, if indeed, they fell at all.
  
  
• Or, when they realized who He was, the backed off with their weapons and bowed down to Him, even though they knew they would have to arrest Him, anyway. Who really knows?