John18:5-7
“They answered him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’ Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.”
We can imagine the scene like this: the world’s greatest empire, perhaps ever, pound-for-pound, has its soldiers in this bizarre and backwater place. They have to put up with the many strange customs of the Jews and their odd ceremonial laws and endless religious observances. Now, with a particularly special day looming – the Passover – they’re summoned to surreptitiously arrest this oddball, Jesus of Nazareth. So, they trudge off in the night, up the Mount of Olives, to a darkened garden – far from the illustrious streets of Rome – along with amateur soldiers of the so-called chief priests, on the heels of his holy man’s former disciple, Judas.
What an errand. They are no doubt ready for a battle, convinced that there is an insurrectionist and a Barabbas behind every bush. What happens, however, is something utterly unthinkable to any soldier. These great men of might and warriors of the world’s strongest kingdom are felled by Jesus’ name.
If the seeming intractable politics of our day distract and discourage you, take heart. Jesus merely speaks and the soldiers fall back. “I am He.” The same voice that spoke the universe into existence speaks God’s covenant name and the force is enough to overwhelm 600 trained soldiers! Indeed, the foot soldiers of Rome, that ungodly power, fall back at the simple self-identification of our Lord. Imagine their surprise! Every warrior knows when he’s beaten and powerless and in this case it isn’t another sword made from the hands of man that overpowers them, but the very word of Jesus.
We should note the careful lessons in this exchange.
First, we are not to fight the world with the world’s weapons. Jesus’ word is sufficient and His word isn’t just what he personally spoke two thousand years ago during his physical lifetime. God forbid it! He is the living Word and we have it even today, in our hands – it’s the whole of the life giving, inerrant, holy Scriptures. This is the “sword” of the Spirit and the Christian that labors against the world, wrestling against flesh and blood, labors in vain. We don’t battle Rome or Washington, we battle the dark forces of our enemy the Devil, our own flesh and the world’s vain reasonings. No political revolution will ever free man from his bondage, for his bondage is to sin and only Christ has the key to those otherwise impervious chains. Should He not unlock them with grace through faith, we’re foolish to think that any human endeavors or politics will appease the enemy and free us. Indeed, unless Christ frees us from sin, we’re slaves. Slaves to sin and death. We need to let that sink in.
Those preachers that talk about talking back Washington and such things as that have their focus on the wrong kingdom. We already have a King and Kingdom and they aren’t in need of our rescue. When Christians confuse this they cause much harm.
Secondly, we note the restraint of our Lord. Could he have incinerated the whole assemblage should he have so desired? Yes – that’s beyond dispute. But he shows restraint not because He’s weak but because He knows the Father’s will. We must never confuse meekness with cowardice. The Lord’s restraint is because His goal is our redemption. He has no fear. None. Zero. He’s the King. His restraint wasn’t because He didn’t want to make a scene, or some such nonsense as that. Take note that “being nice” is often the soft blanket we throw over our timidity and fear of confrontations we must have. Jesus, on the other hand, tells the truth. And so should we. To not tell the truth because of persecution isn’t being nice. It’s betrayal. And had He done that then it would have been cowardice and not holiness on display. No. Jesus is restrained because of His love for us sinners. None of us can be stopped when our goal is heaven’s goal – that is, when our goal is Christ and His glory. This is our lesson. But if we’re bold only for our own goals, if we’re champions of our own ambitions, then we’re destined for defeat, for death will someday assuredly swallow us whole – without remorse.
To be Christlike is to choose discomfort instead of compromise. To be worldly is to seek one’s ease and gain rather than the truth.
Jesus knows the plan of salvation and He knows that the time for judgment isn’t tonight. If He judged the world on that night we would have been lost in our sin. Even still, there is this glimpse of the great and still coming cosmic beat-down. Assuredly, the day is coming when the evil prince of this world and all his minions and empires shrink back in humiliation and defeat at the sound of Jesus’ voice.
That day will come. Every knee will bow. To Him.
It isn’t from Washington or from some other worldly capital that justice and peace will be restored, but by the Son of Man and we must look to Him and use the weapons – His word – that He’s ordained. Follow Him. Obey Him. Obey the principles of sound doctrine in every area of your life and you will see that holiness is power. The world thought, on that night, that Judas and Rome were the winners and that vagabond preacher was the loser. Now what do we see? So, let’s not forget this lesson. This world and its values are passing away. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our Lord abides forever. So, that’s it. True power is in our submission to Him and our obedience in loving faith!
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