…Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” 35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 Jesus said to them, “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. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied. – Luke 22:33-38
There is this interesting conversation that happens during the Last Supper. Jesus and the disciples have shared their meal and Jesus is trying to give the disciples instructions as to what will happen next. Judas, at this point has already been dismissed, and Peter makes another bold proclamation, he is ready to go with Jesus even unto death.
We know that is not how the story ends, and here Jesus predicts it, Peter though willing in that moment, though energized by Jesus message, and ready to face even death; will deny Jesus before dawn. When the time comes he isn’t able to live, yet, into the calling of an apostle and martyr. Later, however he will.
Just after that moment Jesus gives a little more instruction. He tells them they are going to be sent out again, like they were before, but this time it will be different. This time, Jesus knows that those who are out to stop him, will be out to stop them as well. Jesus knows that those in power are going to hunt them down, and apocalyptically, Jesus tells them to be prepared. But there is more to. this message than being prepared, Jesus is also fulfilling something spoken long ago. It is said of God’s chosen one that “he will be numbered with the transgressors, or the “outlaws.” We know that Jesus was crucified with two other criminals, but we don’t think of the disciples as transgressors. The disciples’ were young men, called out by Jesus, and the beginning point of an oncoming revolution. Their youth perhaps made them timid (hence the hiding until the day of Pentecost). They were common folks, fishermen mostly. They were not violent, yet Jesus told them to get a sword; out of all 12 there in the upper room only 2 swords were currently available, they were probably small as well, as would have been common for that time, something we would consider a dagger, and akin to what we might even think of as a large pocket knife.
Why would they need this tool? Each one of them? Was Jesus calling them to violence? When we get to the heart of Jesus purpose on earth, and the call of disciples to carry the message of grace, hope, and love into the world; what we should understand is that Jesus doesn’t call the disciples to violence. In contrast with the rest of the story, Jesus shows that violence is coming against them, violence comes against the message of God’s peace. The world and it’s ways seems to be in love with turmoil, with violence, and with oppression. However, Jesus overcomes the world, the message of the gospel is needed, we say it’s needed now more than ever, but that has almost become cliché to every bad situation we have found ourselves in. The truth, I know is that the gospel message is needed. Period. We who know the peace of God who live like it, we should share it, and we should stand against those who oppress others, however, not with violence. The message of the gospel, is that oppression will happen, persecution will happen, but the gospel offers hope that life doesn’t have to be that way, and this world’s ways are not God’s ways. May we learn to live in God’s ways finding peace, sharing love, knowing joy.
Grace & Peace,
Sam