PETER'S SWORD --- AND YOURS

When they came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.  (John 18: 10, 11)

Jesus healed the wounded servant, and prohibited the disciples from using violence in His defense.

Without His sword, Peter sat silent outside the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin.  Peter didn’t offer himself as a witness.  He didn’t throw himself before the judges and say, “If you kill Jesus, then you have to kill me, too.”

No.  Peter acted like he didn’t even know no Jesus. 

Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.  (Matthew 26: 69-72)

In our country today, some Christians go on and on about the shift in the culture, about the rising antagonism toward Biblical Christianity, about the seeds of persecution----- and they’re right.

Many of those same brothers and sisters are stockpiling guns and ammo, preparing to fight in the name of Jesus.

Is that ALL you’re prepared to do?

Are you also prepared NOT to fight?

Are you prepared to listen to what Jesus wants you to do?

And if He wants you to put away your sword, are you prepared to do that?

Are you brave enough to stand up for Jesus ---- unarmed?

Are you brave enough to witness for him in the midst of servants to the culture and power structure----- if you have to do so unarmed?

Or, are you such a butt-hole without your guns that your words and actions effectively deny the very Jesus you’re so anxious to “defend” with violence?

Jesus said you can own your weapons. 

So the disciples said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And Jesus said to them, “It is enough.”  (Luke 22:38)

But as a Christian, the weapons aren’t  supposed to dictate your response; Jesus is supposed to dictate your response.

And Jesus has been known to command His disciples NOT to fight with physical arms.  Jesus has been known to tell His soldiers to wage witness and not to wage war.

But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  (Matthew 26: 52)

Are you brave enough to do that?

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

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To listen to sermons and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

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Hall Memorial CME Church

541 Seibles Road

Montgomery, AL 36116