The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in John 18:10-11,
"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'"
Here is an interesting observation. When Jesus took his disciples to the garden, he did so to effect his arrest. It was his intention, carried out masterfully and perfectly, to get arrested and be put to death through the insistence of the Jewish leadership and the agency of the occupying Roman authorities. This he accomplished to fulfill his purpose for coming on that first Christmas morning, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." Romans 3:25a.
This is important to note in order to understand Jesus' response when Peter defended him with his sword. When Peter attacked the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear, Jesus rebuked Peter, not saying it was wrong to defend themselves, not saying it was wrong to use a sword, or not that it was wrong to be carrying a sword at all. No... he told Peter to put his sword away because he intended to get arrested. It was his purpose to be taken for the kangaroo court he would be subjected to and the unjust treatment he would receive.
We read of the same account in Matthew 26:52-54, which adds some additional detail, "'Put your sword back in its place,' Jesus said to him [Peter], 'for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?'" Here he repeats the concern that his arrest be carried out as planned. He did, however, make the point here that "... for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Clearly, a cautionary observation. Not a command, but a truthful observation that if you pull out a weapon, you will suffer the consequences for doing so. Again, nothing said of carrying a weapon for defending oneself having negative moral connotations.
Mark observes Peter's action in the garden, but there is no response from Jesus telling him to put his sword away, or why he should do so. What Jesus is quoted as saying is, "the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 49b.
Luke's account doesn't provide why Jesus rebuked Peter for pulling his sword and cutting off the servant's ear. He simply says, "No more of this!" Luke 22:51, where we read of Jesus then healing the wounded man. However a few verses earlier, we read where Jesus encouraged his followers to arm themselves, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." Luke 22:36. His disciples responded, "See, Lord, here are two swords." to which Jesus responded, "That's enough!" Luke 22:38.
Of course, the sword was the side arm of the day and "open carry" was the norm for self defense. We don't see Jesus condemning this, in the account of his arrest, but beforehand encouraging his followers to arm themselves.
However, we read in his sermon on the mount Jesus saying, "I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." Matthew 5:39. In this context, a least a part of Jesus' concern was how one was to comport himself in an occupied country. Israel was under Rome's rule and Jesus' admonition, "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." was with reference to an occasion of a roman soldier requiring one of the occupied Jews to carry his equipment for him. The remainder of the paragraph doesn't seem to apply to Roman rule, but to a situation when one is confronted by an "evil person" and assaulted. "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." Matthew 5:39. No mention of self defense here. One might assume here that Jesus is saying, when attacked don't defend.
How to synthesize Jesus' comment in his sermon with the direction he gave his disciples prior to being arrested is a challenge and something I have not quite resolved for myself. However, the observation Paul makes, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8, is something I take seriously, and for me, that is more than just a paycheck. Each and every believer is to care for their family in every way, including providing protection and safety. Turning my cheek while my wife might be being raped is hardly a fulfillment of my responsibility toward either her or the Lord. Remember Jesus' words, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13.
Just some rambling thoughts on what I feel is an interesting and highly important topic of the day. In case you are interested to know, both my wife and I have concealed carry permits and are found weekly at the shooting range.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'"
Here is an interesting observation. When Jesus took his disciples to the garden, he did so to effect his arrest. It was his intention, carried out masterfully and perfectly, to get arrested and be put to death through the insistence of the Jewish leadership and the agency of the occupying Roman authorities. This he accomplished to fulfill his purpose for coming on that first Christmas morning, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith." Romans 3:25a.
This is important to note in order to understand Jesus' response when Peter defended him with his sword. When Peter attacked the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear, Jesus rebuked Peter, not saying it was wrong to defend themselves, not saying it was wrong to use a sword, or not that it was wrong to be carrying a sword at all. No... he told Peter to put his sword away because he intended to get arrested. It was his purpose to be taken for the kangaroo court he would be subjected to and the unjust treatment he would receive.
We read of the same account in Matthew 26:52-54, which adds some additional detail, "'Put your sword back in its place,' Jesus said to him [Peter], 'for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?'" Here he repeats the concern that his arrest be carried out as planned. He did, however, make the point here that "... for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Clearly, a cautionary observation. Not a command, but a truthful observation that if you pull out a weapon, you will suffer the consequences for doing so. Again, nothing said of carrying a weapon for defending oneself having negative moral connotations.
Mark observes Peter's action in the garden, but there is no response from Jesus telling him to put his sword away, or why he should do so. What Jesus is quoted as saying is, "the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 49b.
Luke's account doesn't provide why Jesus rebuked Peter for pulling his sword and cutting off the servant's ear. He simply says, "No more of this!" Luke 22:51, where we read of Jesus then healing the wounded man. However a few verses earlier, we read where Jesus encouraged his followers to arm themselves, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." Luke 22:36. His disciples responded, "See, Lord, here are two swords." to which Jesus responded, "That's enough!" Luke 22:38.
Of course, the sword was the side arm of the day and "open carry" was the norm for self defense. We don't see Jesus condemning this, in the account of his arrest, but beforehand encouraging his followers to arm themselves.
However, we read in his sermon on the mount Jesus saying, "I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." Matthew 5:39. In this context, a least a part of Jesus' concern was how one was to comport himself in an occupied country. Israel was under Rome's rule and Jesus' admonition, "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." was with reference to an occasion of a roman soldier requiring one of the occupied Jews to carry his equipment for him. The remainder of the paragraph doesn't seem to apply to Roman rule, but to a situation when one is confronted by an "evil person" and assaulted. "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." Matthew 5:39. No mention of self defense here. One might assume here that Jesus is saying, when attacked don't defend.
How to synthesize Jesus' comment in his sermon with the direction he gave his disciples prior to being arrested is a challenge and something I have not quite resolved for myself. However, the observation Paul makes, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8, is something I take seriously, and for me, that is more than just a paycheck. Each and every believer is to care for their family in every way, including providing protection and safety. Turning my cheek while my wife might be being raped is hardly a fulfillment of my responsibility toward either her or the Lord. Remember Jesus' words, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13.
Just some rambling thoughts on what I feel is an interesting and highly important topic of the day. In case you are interested to know, both my wife and I have concealed carry permits and are found weekly at the shooting range.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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