Monday, July 13
Read: Luke 22
We are reaching the end of Luke and the beginning of the passion story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. After the Passover meal, Jesus is trying to warn the disciples of the importance of guarding their hearts in a time of temptation. Jesus knows that the enemy is doing what he can to try and altar the faith of the disciples and of Jesus. When asked which is the greatest amongst the apostles, Jesus answers that it the one who sees himself as the youngest. During the time of Jesus, the young ones were considered the least significant. This was Christ’s way of telling them that greatest are the ones who humbly serve God. This is not a new theme in Luke’s gospel, yet Jesus is trying to stress this importance right before a time of temptation (he already warns them that one apostle will betray him and another will deny his name).
We then get this interesting incidence of the swords (v. 36-38). Jesus is urging the apostles to have a sword and even suggests that they sell their cloak for one (cloaks and garments for the night were considered of high importance). But when the disciples pull out two swords, Jesus reaction is to tell them, “this is enough” (v.38). It is important to know that Jesus is not saying the two swords are enough, instead he is ending the conversation with frustration because the apostles are not understanding the point he is trying to make. Jesus is not talking about a literal sword but of figurative spiritual sword. Look at Ephesians 6:11-18. In this passage Paul is a talking about equipping ourselves with what is necessary for spiritual battle with the enemy. “Take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The sword that Jesus is referring to in Luke 22 is the sword of the Spirit! In no way is Christ trying to suggest the use of violence. Jesus never preaches the coming of the kingdom of God through violence. Instead, Jesus is telling his apostles to hold onto the teaching that he has given to them. The temptations of Satan are approaching and it is the word of God that can help them overcome that.
We even get a little glimpse of Jesus being tempted. In versus 41-44 we get to hear a prayer from Jesus to the father. Yet, he pleads with the Father, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from yet not as my will, but as yours be done” (v.42). Jesus is asking the father to remove this cup, which he is referring to as the suffering he must go through. Simply put, Jesus is afraid and not looking forward to going through such harsh pain. Yet, he never looses site of the importance of the Fathers will! Jesus death is the will of God, but instead of just telling that to Jesus, He sends an angel to strengthen Jesus.
This is one of the most human sides we see of Jesus in all of the gospels. It is important to remember that Jesus was both fully God and fully Human. He felt temptations the same way we did, and the enemy was always ready to attack him. Here was a moment when Christ would rather not have to go through such suffering for God will to be done. He would prefer another way. Yet Jesus is strengthened through his prayer! And although he was still “anguished” Jesus prayed more earnestly. This meant that he was accepting the fact of Gods will for him rather than praying for a new will. This is why he urged his disciples to pray, so that they may be strengthened just as he was. And this is another reason why we must pray continually! God strengthens us through prayer!
Process
-In Luke 22:49-51, the disciples saw a moment where they believed violence was a justified act. Yet Jesus response is to stop the fighting and to heal the servant of the high priest, an enemy of Jesus. Jesus is showing how we are to truly love our enemies! No where in the teachings of Christ does he ever preach the use of violence or war, yet it is still a very real thing in our world. How do humans sometimes justify war as being acceptable by God? Is war and or violence acceptable under Christ’s teachings?
-What other worldly things do human try to justify as acceptable by God?
-Jesus urged his disciples to pray for strength and he even prayed to strengthen himself. BOS is reaching its last week and it will be different stepping away from such a strong community of Christians. This is a time when the enemy really likes to attack. Take some time to pray for one another, pray that God will strengthen you now and when you return home.