Articles / The Church of Jesus Christ
A Soldier in the Lord's Army, part 4
What about Jesus telling His disciples to bring a sword when He knew they were going to be facing the Roman soldiers?
Let's look at that:
Luke 22:
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
We can see that Jesus was telling His disciples something completely different than what He had always taught them. We can see He was communicating to them the seriousness of the situation and what they were about to face.
So, they went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
Matthew 26:
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
We can see here that Jesus didn't tell them to bring their sword for protection. Twelve legions of angels? WOW! We read in Isaiah 37 that just one angel killed 185,000 Syrians!
So why did Jesus tell His disciples to carry their swords? We can only speculate but can say with scriptural authority that it was not for their protection. This is interesting, in Luke 22:
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him
It well could have been so Jesus could demonstrate His compassion in the face of the enemy.
Now, check this out from John:
John 18:
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
How about that? They fell backward to the ground when Jesus said, "I am He".
He didn't need those angels either, did He?
Jesus is still with His disciples, today!
Luke 22:
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
We can see that Jesus was telling His disciples something completely different than what He had always taught them. We can see He was communicating to them the seriousness of the situation and what they were about to face.
So, they went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
Matthew 26:
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
We can see here that Jesus didn't tell them to bring their sword for protection. Twelve legions of angels? WOW! We read in Isaiah 37 that just one angel killed 185,000 Syrians!
So why did Jesus tell His disciples to carry their swords? We can only speculate but can say with scriptural authority that it was not for their protection. This is interesting, in Luke 22:
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him
It well could have been so Jesus could demonstrate His compassion in the face of the enemy.
Now, check this out from John:
John 18:
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
How about that? They fell backward to the ground when Jesus said, "I am He".
He didn't need those angels either, did He?
Jesus is still with His disciples, today!
Below is a video expressing the very essence of this subject: A Soldier in the Lord's Army:
This senior brother used the most powerful weapon we have available on this planet:
THE NAME OF JESUS!
THE NAME OF JESUS!