Here are two pieces on Jesus’ “I am” statements in the gospel of John. They each use an argument from context to come to opposite conclusions regarding Jesus’ use of “I am” in John 18:5-6. Which argument do you find more persuasive?
Mounce
“[I]s Jesus referencing God’s name in 18:5? I doubt it. There is nothing in the context that suggests this.” Read more from Bill Mounce at Koinonia.
Kruger
“[W]hen Jesus is arrested in the garden, he declares in 18:6: ‘I am he (ego eimi).’ While most readers would miss the connection here, the response of the soldiers gives us a clue to what is meant: ‘When Jesus said to them, “I am he (ego eimi)” they drew back and fell to the ground’ (18:6).” Read more from Michael Kruger at Canon Fodder.