Tuesday, April 2, 2013
333 - Sword of Mystery Cuts Both Ways
Spirituality
Column #333
April 2, 2013
Current in Carmel – Westfield – Noblesville – Fishers – Zionsville
Author of the book Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
April 2, 2013
Current in Carmel – Westfield – Noblesville – Fishers – Zionsville
Sword of Mystery Cuts Both Ways
By
Bob WaltersAuthor of the book Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Sometimes we focus on the wrong part
of a story.
When Jesus was arrested, famously
hotheaded disciple Simon Peter drew a sword and cut off the ear of the high
priest’s servant Malchus (John 18:10).
What happened next? Jesus
rebuked Peter, healed the servant and commanded prophecy to be fulfilled. “Fulfilled” meant that Jesus – the Son of Man
and Savior of Mankind, was led away by men to be beaten, denied, abandoned,
tried, beaten again, given over to the Romans, examined, beaten some more, stripped,
flogged, humiliated, harangued, tortured and crucified. Jesus was dead and buried, but then
resurrected and alive. He instructed and
encouraged his followers, was seen by 500 people, ascended to Heaven, was
seated at the right hand of God, and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us.
Jesus
defeated death, forgave sin, provided comfort, and restored human relationship with
God the Father. The big-picture truth,
the focus of the story, is that Jesus is our assurance of eternal love, salvation,
and divine fellowship.
Regarding misplaced focus, I
recently had a conversation with a secular friend who demanded to know what
Peter was doing with a sword.
It’s understandable that people
familiar with the Christian story but not buttressed with Christian faith will question
what they can conceive, not what they don’t.
Apparent biblical contradictions abound and confound. Jesus was the prince of peace who died a
violent death; was prophesied to lead people to “beat their swords into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4) but told his
disciples to “sell their cloaks and buy
swords” (Luke 22:36).
Never mind contemplating the ugliness
of human sin juxtaposed with the beautiful mystery of God, Jesus, the Spirit, peace,
humanity, love, faith, hope and salvation …
“What
was Peter doing with a sword?”
Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and
John 18 contribute details of the arrest, ear and sword story. We can further explain
that the Greek word “machairan” means
sword; mention traitor disciple Judas Iscariot and how “Iscariot” can mean
“dagger carrier”; surmise that Peter gained the element of surprise because he
probably had something more like a dagger than a sword; and maybe note that
“Simon the Zealot” – who would be a natural fighter – was another disciple, not
“Simon Peter.”
But none of that is the main point. The infinite, inexplicable mystery of Jesus
giving up himself freely in obedience to God for our salvation is the main
point, and mystery itself often is the sword that divides a skeptical world
from believing Christians.
The sword of mystery can cut off
faith or cut off doubt. I pray it never
cuts off conversation with someone seeking the truth.
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