No More of This!

A meditation for Holy Week, 2006 Luke 22: 35-38, 47-51

The story of Jesus’ Passion ends in high drama, and not just in the movies. At last the moment comes for the soldiers to arrest Jesus.

And at that moment the disciples ask Jesus a curious question: Lord, shall we strike with the sword? (Luke 22:49). It is curious, because well, these are the disciples, the ones closest to Jesus. What of that, which Jesus taught or did up to this point, would lead the disciples to think that now they should strike with the sword?

There is a somber irony here. When Jesus is arrested the soldiers have swords, (no irony in that, all soldiers have swords. This is the way governments work, with swords. This is the way we attain national security, with swords. As you pay taxes this year, for the largest military budget in the world, you know all that In God we trust, is a not exactly true: in a pinch, give us a good sword.)

The irony is that Jesus’ own disciples have swords. Matthew, Mark, and Luke don’t name the disciple with the sword. John’s says that the sword-swinging disciple was none other than Peter, the rock, the church, us.

All of that Jesus talk about turning the other cheek, about not resisting evil, was fine for sunnier days, back on the road, when Jesus was popular, and spiritual. But when it’s dark, as the soldiers come with their swords, it’s time for the church to be responsible, to be realistic, to take matters in hand, to take up the sword. Church, let’s roll.

Here the people who have heard every word Jesus spoke, seen all of his acts, and still ask, Lord, now shall we strike with the sword?

Which maybe makes all the more amazing that even at this point, when Jesus’ life is threatened, when his movement is faced with its extinction, even then, to our question about perfectly justified self- defense, Jesus replies in no uncertain terms, Put away your sword, everyone who takes up the sword will die by the sword. (Matt. 26:52) These are the last words, the very last words, that the disciples hear before they flee into the darkness. Put away the swords.

Surely, if there were ever a moment in human history when violence would be justified, it is here when the Son of God is being so unjustly attacked. But then come the words of Jesus; No more of this. Jesus is against swords because of something Jesus knows about God. The authorities have their swords that prop them up. Jesus has nothing to support his kingdom but God. Yet sadly, the disciples of Jesus are propped up with swords. No more of this! (Luke 22:51) When we draw the sword, there is no difference between the Empire and us. The state is careful to identify its enemies, to get conclusive evidence against them, as justification for its violence. Jesus commands us to love our enemies, to take our swords and beat them into plows.

At this, his final word to them, his last command, the disciples of Jesus run away into the dark. And Jesus is left alone, to go-head-to- head with the powers. He is led like a lamb to the slaughter. And we, with swords in our hands, flee to darkness. And the Christian faith claims that this is the way God wins God’s victories!

Back when I was at the University, during Islamic Awareness Week, we had a panel. There was an Imam from Chicago, a local Rabbi, and me (representing all Christians everywhere, even though you didn’t vote for me). During the discussion, the Imam said, Islam is a very tolerant faith. In the Holy Koran, if an unbeliever attacks a believer, I am under obligation to punish the unbeliever. If my brother here, the Jew, is attacked by an unbeliever, the Holy Prophet commands me to punish the attacker.

The rabbi seemed pleased by this. For my part, I said, Gee, I wish Jesus had said that. I got people that I want to punish, folks who need killing. Unfortunately, even when we tried to defend Jesus, he cursed us!

On the cross, his crucifiers screamed, He trusted God, let God deliver him. We can’t. We may say, on our money, In God we trust, but when push comes to shove, we ask, Lord, is now the time to strike with the sword?

In just a short time, we are going to see that, when Jesus says, In God I trust, he means it.

William H. Willimon