Swords! What For?

On the night before Jesus was crucified for our sins, He had a very interesting conversation with the Apostles.  Just before He went off to pray on the Mount of Olives, He said something that seemed quite out of character for this gentle Galilaean.

“Then Jesus asked them, ‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’  ‘Nothing,’ they answered.  He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.  It is written; “and he was numbered with the transgressors”; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me.  Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.'”  Luke 22:35-37

I’ve been to Jerusalem a couple of times and I can safely tell you, it’s in the middle of the desert!  It is incredibly hot in the day, and very cold at night.  A person simply couldn’t live very long without a cloak.  This thick outer garment served as a protector from the sun during the heat of the day and as a blanket at night.  In fact, according to Jewish law, if a man owed you everything that he had, it was still illegal to keep his cloak after sundown.  Why is Jesus now telling them to sell their cloaks and buy swords if necessary?  My understanding is that as He prepared to fulfill what was spoken of Him in Isaiah 53, Jesus was also warning the Apostles.  Now that I’m going to the cross, and ultimately back to the Father, you are going to be in serious danger.  (In fact, all but one was slain for His name!)

Can you think of a bigger irritant to this world than Spirit-filled Christians?  I know we’ve had about two hundred years without serious persecution in this country, but look at the writing on the wall.  Do you believe we’ll make it out of our lifetimes without facing it again?

In Christ,

PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er

Jim@JamesKilby.com

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