Intro

This blog post is part of a series I’m calling Swords in the Garden.  The idea for the topic arose when I was browsing in a Christian book store one day, and came across a video game where the players battle- physically with conventional weapons- the forces of Satan and his agent the antichrist.  The thought that immediately came to mind was “wow- just like Peter in Gethsemane”.  It seems likely that as the world gets more wicked, we may be more tempted to take matters into our own hands, to battle against the increase of evil in the world, but what does Scripture teach us in this regard?

Scripture

First the actual sword in the garden passage as found in John 18:

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” 12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

And Matthew 26:50-54:

50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

And Luke 22:49-53:

⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.  51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.  52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

And reading further down we see an event that transpired later that same evening, as recorded in Luke 22:54-62:

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Commentary

There are 4 points that stand out as I read the accounts of that night.

• Jesus indicated that it was appointed for “darkness to reign”. This seems much like the warnings provided in other scriptures about the last days, when there is an increase of evil in our world.
• Jesus also indicates that the events are necessary to the fulfillment of Scripture, and in accordance with the will of God.
• He had legions of heavenly warriors at His disposal. If a battle were intended, once again God had everything covered!  There was no need for the disciples to take matters into their own hands.
• The very same disciple that raised his sword denied the Lord thrice that very evening.

Peter’s use of the sword, and his later denial of Christ, seem to me as fruit of the same tree.  At first, he was unable to accept the arrest of our Lord as part of God’s will- surely he must intervene on God’s behalf!  Later he was unable to trust in God’s protection, and denied the Lord out of fear for his own safety.  How weak we are when we try to take God’s place, and how patient He is with us!  Of course, the good news for us in all of this is that God was later able to use Peter to be the “rock on which He built His church”.  So, we have hope.  Next week we will continue to look at this story in a modern context, and to see if there are places in modern Christianity where we are being led to bring “swords to the garden”.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K