Skip to main content

Remember How Jesus Responds

                  Sometimes, when one starts with the wrong idea, it can be difficult to see things correctly. For example, when my Sunday School teachers talked about Jesus being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, I pictured a quiet, orderly scene. People came from town, found Jesus, and told him that the High Priest would like to see him. In response, Jesus got up and quietly followed them back to town. That picture could not be further from the truth.

                Mark 14 says, “As he (Jesus) was speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs” (verse 43). That does not sound very peaceful. Rarely does an armed crowd show up in a quiet and orderly fashion.

                Then things deteriorated even more. “The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (verses 46-47). John tells us that Peter was the one who drew his sword and started swinging (John 18:10). This should not surprise us. Peter said that he would die with Jesus if he had to, and he was true to his word (Mark 14:31).

                The scene must have looked more like a mob brawl than a quiet night in the park. However, during this chaotic scene, two amazing things take place.

                First, Jesus healed the man (Luke 22:51). Jesus was always about healing and restoration. When others were ready to fight and wound, Jesus stepped in to heal and mend.

                The second amazing thing is that even though he is the one facing crucifixion, Jesus is the calming influence. He reminds them that violence never brings about the righteous things of God (James 1:20). They come in anger and Jesus responds in love and service.

                Those two pictures are worth remembering any time you start to question who Jesus is and what he might do. During the most chaotic and stressful night of his life, Jesus heals and Jesus calms.

                He can do the same for you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Article: Grace Changes Everything

               A young man broke into a business and did $5000 damage. As part of his Restorative Justice sentence, he was required to meet with my friend Garth.   Garth believes in making apologies and restitution.   It took several months, but Garth finally convinced the young man that these were necessary steps, so he tried to arrange a meeting with the business owner.                The business owner wanted nothing to do with this situation.   He was angry and wanted a more severe form of justice.   Eventually, however, he agreed to meet the young man to hear what he had to say.                  The young man looked the business owner in the eye an...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: We need a Better Scorecard

                   “Is that a Sun Ice?”                “Excuse me,” I said.                My friend pointed to my new ski jacket and asked again, “Is that a Sun Ice?”                It was 1991 and Sun Ice was the big name in ski wear at the time.   “No” I replied, “I can’t afford one of those”.                “Oh” he said as he lost interest and then just walked away.                I had not seen this friend in more than a year and, sadly, his first ...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: Surprised by God

                 We would be shocked if we could hear the Bible for the first time again.   On every page, something unexpected happens.   The only reason we are not surprised is that the stories are so familiar to us.   Think about some of the unexpected interactions that God has had with his people.                For example, every culture has stories about a creator, but none imagined that God would become part of the creation.   That the creator would lower himself and become human is surprising, to say the least.                Not only did he become one of us, but he also came as a baby.   A tiny, helpless, baby!   If I wer...
Post a Comment
Read more