Don't Squander the Wander!

A moonlit garden, sleepy disciples, and a plan for capturing the innocent. Jesus passionately prays while his guys nap. The guards and the thugs arrive with the snitch, and the servants and water boys wander around with the crowd. Everyone on edge as the accusations are made. Everyone except Jesus. He was solid in His understanding of what was about to happen. And oh, the disciples. Those poor confused followers who still sought to understand through the lens of humanity. Watching the Savior yet wriggling in their own limitations.

As the disciples readied for the garden and impending altercation (previous scene) – Peter looked around for weapons. Found two swords. Silly man carries two measly swords to a spiritual gun fight. I imagine Peter thinking to himself, well if Jesus can multiply a couple of fish and loaves of bread, feeding thousands of men and their families, how much more must Jesus want to multiply this arsenal into a mighty warring band of brothers?!? Just wait and see, bad guys! We’re coming for you. In a West Side Story scenario in his mind, the fingers begin to snap as his imagination dreams up the big victory scene. Um, no. Not so much. Nobody wins in such a battle of bullies.

Jesus was about to show what true Resurrection power was like. No more of these earthly games with man-made weapons. Where He was going, and what He was going to battle with could never be downgraded to earthly tools. Yet, here we have Peter. A sword in his hand, and a chip on his shoulder. He was going to prove that he loved Jesus most, and that Jesus needed his protection and help in battle. In his frenzy and fury, Peter would wind up chopping the ear off of a servant!

 A servant, who was just stuck with the crowd in his given role of servitude. Do this, do that, don’t think, don’t decide. You have no say, follow me, we have to go over here, yes it is the middle of the night, but we need to find this guy in the middle of a garden, and arrest him. For what? Doesn’t matter. Just get in line and carry my stuff. And bam! There goes his ear. Peter flails the weapon, and misses his target, hitting an innocent man instead.

The ear is an interesting tool. The very tool that God created to help us hear, to listen, and begin the process of internalizing communication. The vehicle of understanding the spoken thoughts of others. Gone. Isn’t that just like the enemy? If he can cut us off from hearing the truth, we will be limited in our ability to believe the truth of the gospel. And Peter, in one of many hasty actions, is used to get the people off track. If only for a moment.

No worry, Jesus goes to the servant, restores the ear, and then rebukes Peter. Dude, you got it wrong. Settle down and get back to the things of the kingdom. Haven’t you heard what I’ve been trying to tell you? This must all happen in order to fulfill the purpose and plan of the Father. To fulfill all that has been spoken – all prophecy about Me. Settle down and put that silly sword away.

Eventually, with the teaching of Paul, believers would better understand that yes, our only offensive weapon in spiritual warfare is a sword, but it is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, not some sliver of silver forged in high heat and pounded out by man. Our weapon is the very word of God himself.