47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people… Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”   

      —Luke 22:47, 50b-54. (ESV)

Significant events in our lives change us and can help us to grow in our relationship to Christ and our understanding of who God is and God’s very nature. When I lost my brother to mental illness, I came to understand that our God is big enough to handle our anger and frustration with Him permitting these tragic events in our world. When I had the opportunity to participate in a cross-cultural mission trip, I came to understand that “The American Way” is not the only way or even the best way… the context of one’s world matters!

Our experiences change us and help us to interpret and understand the Bible and its testimony to who Jesus is, how God loves us and how God desires to use us in this world.

Peter learned this on that Passover night long ago.

You see, Peter, devoted to the idea that Jesus was the Messiah… the Christ… the “Son of the Living God”… had a concept that His Kingdom was to be a worldly kingdom and that he was supposed to fight to defend the Kingship and Kingdom of Christ. So, he took up the sword and struck, only to find himself being disciplined by the One he loved. Peter’s understanding of what God “needed” or expected of him was not God’s understanding… Jesus needed no defense by human hands!



Strangely, maybe even understandably, this is a common view for us as Christians. We read the Old Testament scripture that our God is a “jealous” God (Exodus 34:14), and we assume that means we need to force every knee to bow and tongue to confess Jesus as Lord! Jesus points out that He is able to call more than a Legion of Angels to defend Him if He wants that. Talk about “Shock and Awe! So, our God does not need us to defend or want to subdue this world by force. He told the religious leadership who wished to quiet the crowds on His entry to Jerusalem that should the crowds be shushed… the very rocks of the road would cry out His name. He doesn’t wish to force us to praise Him but hopes we will choose to do so!

Jesus chose the path of being lifted up as a sacrifice and payment for our sins so that all of mankind would be drawn… not forced to Him. To choose the path of faith in Jesus, not subdued by the overwhelming force of His power, strength, and influence. And yet somehow, when we have not experienced the power of submission in Christ’s name to the powers of this world through some sort of life-changing experience, we feel called to defend our faith… to defend Jesus… to draw swords and destroy those who would oppose Him instead of allowing His love to transform them.

Peter saw this in the power of the cross and went from defending Jesus, to proclaiming the power of the cross on the day of Pentecost! This same sort of transformation is available to us and to others when we show love and understanding instead of immediately reaching for the Sword. Yes, there is a time to draw the Sword… but too often, we reach for the Sword when instead we should grab a washcloth and clean the feet of others.



As we have just remembered the Power of the Cross and the Victory of Jesus’ resurrection, may we allow this vicarious experience to transform us as it did Peter. May we learn to see the power of love and the uselessness of defending Jesus on our own power.  May this season of Easter be a time when your faith in Him grows so strong that you will not be tempted to draw the Sword of Christ, trying to force others to live righteously, forgetting that our own righteousness in Him defends and protects us from the dangers of this world. Just like Jesus, we are protected by a legion of Angels so that we can walk in faith, not fear.

Prayer 

Help us Lord to fight the desire to defend your name in this world with the Sword of the Spirit but to instead trust in your Righteousness to defend and protect us.

 Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Dr. Steve Van Ostran