Dying by the Sword

Day 115: Luke 22:35-53

“And they said, ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’ And he said to them, ‘It is enough.”’ - Luke‬ ‭22:38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus is working hard to prepare His disciples for what is to come. The days of them leisurely strolling into Jewish communities and being accepted with open arms are going to be coming to an end. All of these men would suffer incredible amounts of torture for the sake of their faith in Jesus’ resurrection, and Jesus saw it coming.

The odd thing about our reading today is that Jesus tells them to bring a sword but then later tells Peter to stop trying to exact justice with the sword.

Was Jesus conflicted?

No. Jesus was trying to help the disciples realize that resistance to their calling would be severe. When He says, “that is enough,” He isn’t saying that they would be armed adequately with two swords to fend off the Romans or the Jews. He’s instead frustrated that they don’t understand what He’s trying to communicate.

What is the application for us?

Let’s not be shocked if and when we are called to suffer or be excluded for the sake of our allegiance to Jesus. It is an identifier of those who are following Jesus the right way.

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” - 2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

"The disciples quietly took inventory: two swords among twelve (eleven) disciples. Jesus told them that would do; they need not go and buy others. Jesus’ answer had an ironic twist. The two swords were obviously not enough to resist those who came to arrest Jesus. He used this irony to close the conversation." - Butler, T. C. (2000). Luke (Vol. 3, p. 372)