2015-07-12 Faith Talk When Jesus Comes Under Attack
As Jesus was being arrested one of His disciples fought back. Even though the odds were huge against the
disciple, even though they had only one sword among them, this disciple drew his sword and struck. If you
had the sword, what would you have done?
Read Matthew 26:51-54 (NKJV) 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his
hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to
him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish[6]by the sword. 53 Or do you think
that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
54
How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"
Notice: Jesus commands His disciples to stand down and not fight the mob, at least with conventional
weapons. Jesus reminds his friends as He warns them, that He is going willingly following His Father’s will,
and at any point in the process has the power to change His mind and call for help to end it all.
Jesus takes this opportunity to let all who can hear Him know just Who they are dealing with, too. Jesus lets
them know the power at His command as He reveals He has a huge army of angels waiting His command to
come to His aid.
Just who was outnumbered here?
Consider: Imagine the emotions that night. Put yourself in the garden among the disciples and feel the
despair they felt. Imagine how it would have felt to watch Jesus be taken by an armed mob.
Imagine what the angels awaiting Jesus’ word to attack and rescue felt. I wonder if they were as anxious as
the disciple with the sword. Imagine the angels watching and ready to strike as Jesus obediently allows
Himself to be taken.
With Heaven and earth at His command, Jesus humbly submits to the power of the mob and to His Father’s
will and allows Himself to be led away.
Discuss: What would you have done if you were a disciple? Would you have fought or fled? Would you have
stood up for Jesus or would you have silently watched as He was led away? What would you have felt if you
were one of the angels standing by? What if you were Jesus, would we have a Savior today?
Read Matthew 26:55-56 (NKJV) 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as
against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you
did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all
the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Notice: We need to not miss this point. Jesus spoke to the mob as individuals here on a more personal level. I
can imagine Jesus looking one by one at the men in the mob. I can imagine Jesus looking them in the eye as
He spoke. Looking at each, one by one, rather than as a group of angry and misguided men Jesus reminded
them He taught them in the temple daily. I can hear Jesus speak “I taught you today, I spoke to you today, I
healed you today…” I can see Jesus as He looks from man to man one at a time. I can see each man turn his
eyes away as Jesus’ looks deep into his soul.
Have you ever felt conviction like the men in the mob must have felt that night?
2015-07-12 Faith Talk When Jesus Comes Under Attack
Imagine looking into Jesus’ eyes the next time you feel a wayward urge to choose something other than His
will.
Consider: Was Judas Jesus’ “ONLY” betrayer? He may have been the worst and He may have been the first,
but that night there was a garden full of men who at many levels betrayed Jesus’ especially Jesus’ disciples as
they all forsook Him and fled. Couldn’t they have just stood and watched as Jesus was led away? Why did
they have to flee? Why did Jesus have to see His friends turn and forsake Him?
Discuss: Jesus, even now, seems to offer comfort in a way as He says, “But all this was done that the
Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Jesus spoke almost as if to say, “I understand and I forgive
even now, even this.”
Challenge: Times are changing fast. Our culture is careening toward an attitude none of us has ever
experienced. Jesus experienced it. Jesus’ disciples experienced it, as well. We do well to purpose in our
hearts how we will respond when Jesus and all who follow Him come under attack.
Read the book of Daniel for a guide to dealing with drastically changing times. Establish in your heart
today where your loyalty lies.
Tell a friend about Jesus.
Love,
Tom