Not of this World

So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath…” (see John 18:11)

In a place where a peaceful quiet usually reigned, the muffled voices probably started out annoying. But as they grew closer and more determined, the confident speech coming from the disturbers of the peace became more startling for the small band of men looking for rest for the night.

As the flickering light from lanterns and torches grew, so did the anxiety of Jesus’ followers. Something unexpected and unwelcomed was coming with the soldiers and officers. Their hasty path towards Jesus and his friends was a sign that something was dramatically changing in the path of life that they were living: their own expectations.

The numbers they brought and the weapons they carried were a statement of authority. This approaching company came with the overwhelming military might of Rome and the religious power of the Pharisees intent on telling the disciples that their “insurrection” was over and their leader would be under their power from now on and not his own.

But, Jesus was not surprised at all of this. This is how those who are driven to power work. He has lived in a kingdom that sustained itself through dominance, fear, and greed and endured its effects up until this point. But he has experienced only a portion of that wickedness and, from now on, he will experience the full wrath of those who have all of the power and are determined to keep it. Jesus is holding back the completeness of his own power to express the fullness of his love.

But even so, Jesus does reveal who they are coming against in the desolation of the garden. He expresses his character- his glory- in such a way that they will not be consumed, but that they will be humbled. He steps forward when the arresting group states that they are looking for “Jesus of Nazareth,” and the co-eternal Son of God speaks unutterable words with unimaginable effect: “I am he.” A taste of the fullness of his character and kingdom causes the men to stumble and fall, knowing that they are in the presence of Someone who is more than a mere troublemaker. It is if they have been exposed to the reality of the truth of the universe that they are willingly suppressing and cannot stand the weightiness of Him.

Even still, though Jesus could have impressed himself on the soldiers and officials further, he took a step back and let them have their way with him. The fallen men could now get to their feet after their existential crisis was over, but they had not stumbled in their resolve to arrest Jesus.

Peter saw all of this play out, but could not bear to merely watch. Though fear of the power of Rome and the religious authorities might hold the other disciples back, he would not cower while others allowed the injustice to happen in front of them. Peter had invested his life in Jesus and knew him to be not only kingly, but THE king. Jesus would sit on the throne if Peter had any power to do anything about it and the sword that he carried with him was power enough for that moment. With a swing of his own weapon, he stood up against the illegitimate forces that stood against the coming kingdom by cutting off the ear of the high priests’ servant. This fisherman and son of a fisherman was determined that the revolution would come though Peter’s own power, even if he stood alone.

The real revolution was not started by a swing of a weapon, though, but though a confident demonstration of character: “Peter, my kingdom will not come through bloodshed or fear. A brazen use of power over the weak will not define my rule. Put away your sword. My kingdom will come through, not the suffering of others, by my own suffering for others.”

Like a large stone thrown into the current of the river that changes that river’s course, the current of history was challenged and changed. Using power to dominate and control was the weapon of the rulers against the weakness of the ruled. But Jesus’ kingdom would not be defined by raw power to force the nations to submit to his rule, but it would be defined by a love undiminished by the “worldly” powers that would capture the hearts of all peoples.

All the kingdoms of the world are sustained by control and asserting dominance. To a small group of people on a quiet hillside Jesus demonstrates that his reign is radically different; it is not of this world.