Friday, January 19, 2007
Sheath Your Sword
When it came time for the guards to arrest Jesus, Simon was the only one who took action. He aggressively stepped up to defend Jesus. This might seem odd when you consider all the predictions that Jesus made about His death. But one must remember the political reality of that day.
Many people were looking for a political, possibly a military leader, to rise up and defeat the Romans. The Jews wanted freedom from the Romans, and some probably thought Jesus might be the guy to do it. Jesus presenting Himself as the Messiah would have certainly led some people to look to Him as a revolutionary leader. He talked about the Kingdom as He went from town to town.
Before being arrested, Jesus had cleansed the Temple by overthrowing tables and physically pushing the money changers out of the area. This was most certainly interpreted by some as a violent act. The Romans and religious leaders may have considered this the beginning of a revolt. It sure would have caused a stir around the Temple. Simon saw this act and maybe he remembered it as he rushed to defend His Lord.
Earlier in the day, the disciples had discussed with Jesus the issue of taking swords for protection. They could have been concerned about a backlash over the Temple cleansing or many of the other controversial things that Jesus had said and done. Given the amount of money involved in the Temple practices, Jesus' cleansing could have easily angered the wealthy rulers as well as the Romans, who wanted to keep peace at all costs.
Jesus had said things in the past that could have been viewed as the rhetoric of a revolutionary leader. He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).
These were the words of a fighter not a pacifist. Few would have ever though of Jesus as He was. Instead, most would have suspected He played the role of a miracle worker just to build up popular support before trying to lead a rebellion. Who would have thought that His Kingdom was really from another world? Who could have anticipated the spiritual battle taking place beyond the awareness of the physical world? Why would anyone think there could ever be victory in the cross?
The men who came for Jesus were ready for anything? They came with weapons ready to pounce and were likely surprised by Jesus' reaction. According to Matthew 26:55, Jesus said, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me."
The Gospel account in Luke records how Jesus admonished His disciples to sell their cloak to buy a sword. Then the disciples said that they had two swords. Jesus replied, "That is enough."
Obviously, two swords would not do much against the Roman army or even the High Priest's guards. Jesus' call to arms would make sense if He were leading a rebellion. But He wasn't. Jesus let the guards take Him without a fight. Besides, Jesus didn't need swords. He could have called on angelic warriors at any time He so desired.
Jesus' reply about two swords being enough is equally strange. Maybe Jesus knew the thoughts these men had about military conquest. It almost seems like Jesus was sarcastically appealing to their desires in the hopes to help them see how fruitless it would be. If that was His point, they didn't get it.
When the men approached Jesus, the disciples asked, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" Simon must not have waited for a response because he lept to action. Simon struck the servant of the high priest and cut his ear off. Instead of fight his way free, Jesus helped the enemy. He healed the man's ear and told Simon to sheath his sword.
Jesus said that those who take up the sword will die by the sword. Then He asked Peter, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
All the disciples ran and forsook Jesus after this. Mark records that a young disciple left his clothes and ran away naked to avoid being captured. They all fled when it became clear there would be no battle.
Simon was ready to die and fight for Jesus. He certainly was not a coward. When the guards rushed Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword. Battling like a hero in armed combat was one thing, but dying a painful and humiliating death on the cross was
quite another.
If you had been Simon, what would you have thought when Jesus told you to sheath your sword? The natural instinct is to fight not to just surrender, especially for a guy like Simon. Jesus had talked about a Kingdom. But when the time for action came, He folded and gave up. This would have been hard for Simon to understand. It certainly was not what he expected. Jesus' words and actions that night challenged everything he thought was right.
How could Jesus have gone down without a fight? What was the secret plan? Simon must have wondered what he was missing? None of it made sense.
Simon had to be close to Jesus. He felt lost without Him. But at this moment, Simon likely felt lost because of Him. He had to see what was going to happen. Whether it was curiosity or still His deep passion for Jesus, Simon followed at a safe distance.
From telling the disciples to buy swords to instructing Simon to put his weapon away, the events of the evening would have left the disciples confused, scared and somewhat in shock.
Many people were looking for a political, possibly a military leader, to rise up and defeat the Romans. The Jews wanted freedom from the Romans, and some probably thought Jesus might be the guy to do it. Jesus presenting Himself as the Messiah would have certainly led some people to look to Him as a revolutionary leader. He talked about the Kingdom as He went from town to town.
Before being arrested, Jesus had cleansed the Temple by overthrowing tables and physically pushing the money changers out of the area. This was most certainly interpreted by some as a violent act. The Romans and religious leaders may have considered this the beginning of a revolt. It sure would have caused a stir around the Temple. Simon saw this act and maybe he remembered it as he rushed to defend His Lord.
Earlier in the day, the disciples had discussed with Jesus the issue of taking swords for protection. They could have been concerned about a backlash over the Temple cleansing or many of the other controversial things that Jesus had said and done. Given the amount of money involved in the Temple practices, Jesus' cleansing could have easily angered the wealthy rulers as well as the Romans, who wanted to keep peace at all costs.
Jesus had said things in the past that could have been viewed as the rhetoric of a revolutionary leader. He said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).
These were the words of a fighter not a pacifist. Few would have ever though of Jesus as He was. Instead, most would have suspected He played the role of a miracle worker just to build up popular support before trying to lead a rebellion. Who would have thought that His Kingdom was really from another world? Who could have anticipated the spiritual battle taking place beyond the awareness of the physical world? Why would anyone think there could ever be victory in the cross?
The men who came for Jesus were ready for anything? They came with weapons ready to pounce and were likely surprised by Jesus' reaction. According to Matthew 26:55, Jesus said, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me."
The Gospel account in Luke records how Jesus admonished His disciples to sell their cloak to buy a sword. Then the disciples said that they had two swords. Jesus replied, "That is enough."
Obviously, two swords would not do much against the Roman army or even the High Priest's guards. Jesus' call to arms would make sense if He were leading a rebellion. But He wasn't. Jesus let the guards take Him without a fight. Besides, Jesus didn't need swords. He could have called on angelic warriors at any time He so desired.
Jesus' reply about two swords being enough is equally strange. Maybe Jesus knew the thoughts these men had about military conquest. It almost seems like Jesus was sarcastically appealing to their desires in the hopes to help them see how fruitless it would be. If that was His point, they didn't get it.
When the men approached Jesus, the disciples asked, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" Simon must not have waited for a response because he lept to action. Simon struck the servant of the high priest and cut his ear off. Instead of fight his way free, Jesus helped the enemy. He healed the man's ear and told Simon to sheath his sword.
Jesus said that those who take up the sword will die by the sword. Then He asked Peter, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
All the disciples ran and forsook Jesus after this. Mark records that a young disciple left his clothes and ran away naked to avoid being captured. They all fled when it became clear there would be no battle.
Simon was ready to die and fight for Jesus. He certainly was not a coward. When the guards rushed Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword. Battling like a hero in armed combat was one thing, but dying a painful and humiliating death on the cross was
quite another.
If you had been Simon, what would you have thought when Jesus told you to sheath your sword? The natural instinct is to fight not to just surrender, especially for a guy like Simon. Jesus had talked about a Kingdom. But when the time for action came, He folded and gave up. This would have been hard for Simon to understand. It certainly was not what he expected. Jesus' words and actions that night challenged everything he thought was right.
How could Jesus have gone down without a fight? What was the secret plan? Simon must have wondered what he was missing? None of it made sense.
Simon had to be close to Jesus. He felt lost without Him. But at this moment, Simon likely felt lost because of Him. He had to see what was going to happen. Whether it was curiosity or still His deep passion for Jesus, Simon followed at a safe distance.
From telling the disciples to buy swords to instructing Simon to put his weapon away, the events of the evening would have left the disciples confused, scared and somewhat in shock.
