With Swords, Clubs, & a Kiss
March 29, 2023
Matthew 26:47-56 | Psalm 109:26-31 | Gospels in Lent Track: Matthew 10-12
It really is a stark scene.
Jesus, the one who had been healing, teaching, and speaking compassion, now arrested. A large crowd with swords and clubs come to try and intimidate him (and his disciples) into submission. They needn’t do so. Jesus didn’t come to fight.
In fact, even when his disciple pulled a sword in defense, the justice teaching of Christ continued: “Use the sword…die by the sword.”
The disciples scatter like cockroaches.
End scene.
Matthew 26:47-56
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came. With him was a large crowd carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. His betrayer had given them a sign: “Arrest the man I kiss.” Just then he came to Jesus and said, “Hello, Rabbi.” Then he kissed him.
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
One of those with Jesus reached for his sword. Striking the high priest’s slave, he cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I’m not able to ask my Father and he will send to me more than twelve battle groups of angels right away? But if I did that, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?” Then Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me, like a thief? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, but you didn’t arrest me. But all this has happened so that what the prophets said in the scriptures might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Jesus and ran away.
Psalm 109:26-31
Help me, Lord my God!
Save me according to your faithful love!
And let them know that this is by your hand—
that you have done it, Lord!
Let them curse—but you, bless me!
If they rise up, let them be disgraced,
but let your servant celebrate!
Let my accusers be dressed in shame;
let them wear their disgrace like a coat.
But I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth;
among a great crowd I will praise God!
Because God stands right next to the needy,
to save them from any who would condemn them.
Prayer
God,
A crowd with weapons came to arrest the lone Christ. Today, we keep seeing lone “soldiers” with weapons take on innocent crowds. Both are wrong, backwards, against human freedom and love.
I truly don’t know what to make of it all. I do pray for those children, school staff, families, and communities in Nashville. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy on them.
I wonder what your perspective is, Lord. For sure, I know you lament death with us. But your view is much larger, deeper, wider, and extended beyond our limited understandings. You also see the children dying of hunger each and every day. The 40 refugees who died in a fire yesterday miles from the US border. The people in Haiti and Yemen and Myanmar who day by day continue to die in ways that would make the news for weeks if only it were to happen in this nation.
I don’t have the capacity to hold your perspective, to bear all the violence and death at once. But I do want your posture of love. So help me, God.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.