Is Jesus A Perfect Revelation of God’s Nature? Part II: Terrorist Jesus
Luke 22:35-38 (NKJV)
35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”
I’ll admit, at first glance, this is a pretty disturbing portion of Scripture. Oh, what horrible light we would view our lovely Savior Jesus in if we do not explain this immediately! We’ve established how that Jesus is God who became Man to explain Himself to man — He is the PERFECT representation of God’s nature! Without giving proper explanation to this, we would have issues because God will ONLY EVER DO what Jesus does! How then do we clear the obscurity in this text?
I believe a diligent exegetical explanation would help in this regard. A surface reading of the text under consideration would present to us a “terrorist persona” called Jesus who instructs His followers to bear arms! How do we reconcile this with His perfectly good nature? Well, one key thing to note was that Jesus gave these instructions a few moments before He would be arrested and executed. The rational way of thinking would be that He gave same instructions in order to “protect” Himself from harm when the soldiers came for Him. There would be sufficient arms to “defend” Himself when He finally came into harm’s way. Although this line of thought seems logical, it is INCONSISTENT with the Gospel narratives of the events that transpired afterwards. We see Jesus’ disposition towards the soldiers who came to arrest Him.
Matthew 26:50-54 (NKJV)
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
He rebukes a violent attempt to rescue Him.
Mark’s account records this as well although withholding Jesus’ rebuke:
Mark 14:46-47 (NKJV)
46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Luke’s account even records a supernatural intervention in favour of one of the injured soldiers:
Luke 22:49-51 (NKJV)
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
He came to arrest Jesus in order that He might be executed. Jesus knew this, and yet He heals him!
John’s account gives us an additional detail:
John 18:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
The words used to describe “drew back” and “fell to the ground” are very strong and active words in the original Greek text. They imply that this was caused by great power available on the scene, possibly the old testament ministry of angels (see Matthew 26:53) But notice what Jesus does; He waits for them to get up, rebukes Peter for severing Malchus’ ear and lets them arrest Him! (John 18:7-12)
Considering these narratives, they seem out of place with Luke 22:35-38. The “terrorist persona” coined out of this text just doesn’t make sense! Hence, a careful observation is necessary. Does Jesus want His followers bearing arms? Definitely not! We already saw this in Matthew 26:50-54.
So is Jesus contradicting Himself? No! Let’s look at Luke 22:35-38 AGAIN. The whole enigma would be cracked once we can answer this question successfully: “WHY EXACTLY DID JESUS TELL HIS DISCIPLES TO BUY SWORDS?” This question is answered by Jesus Himself in the SAME narrative!
Luke 22:37 (NKJV)
37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
Jesus did so to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 53:12!
Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
“Transgressors” here is translated from a Hebrew word meaning “rebels, those not submitting to laws and breaking away from just authority, criminals.” This is very key. Notice that Jesus’ disciples still clung to self-righteousness before He said this; they argued concerning who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24-30). Peter also made a boastful remark in Luke 22:31-34. Jesus needed them to see their spiritual state — they were sinners! Studying the historical criticism of the text, you would realize that arms were readily associated with rebels and the lawless in Jesus’ day. Those that shed blood. The swords were simply PHYSICAL instruments bearing SYMBOLIC significance. Such mode of communication (symbolisms and dark speeches) was befitting for men with their level of spiritual perception. The swords were to purge the disciples of their pride and self-righteous ego, to show them that their spiritual state. Jesus instructed them to buy the swords so that He could TRULY be numbered amongst transgressors. The swords were obtained, not to be used, but to simply fulfill prophecy and to show His disciples who they have ALWAYS been. Peter later exposed himself as a transgressor by cutting off Malchus’ ear. Jesus never transgressed but His disciples did. Jesus did so to show them that they were transgressors and needed a Saviour — Himself!
“But what about Matthew 10:34?”
Matthew 10:34 (NKJV) 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Now, is Jesus advocating patricide, fratricide and homicide? No way! Like Luke 22:35-38, this can be explained as well. Just read the antecedent verses:
Matthew 10:35-39 (NKJV)
35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Here, Jesus quotes Micah 7:6 (in verses 35-36). Obviously, the context refers to persecutions for Christ’s sake! The “sword” Jesus brings is metaphoric language for DIVISION amongst believers and their unbelieving relatives. Loving Jesus above kin would cause clashes in their relationships. They, having two distinct experiences (eternal life and spiritual death), would not be able to coexist one with another. A life lived wholly devoted to Christ would upset the unsaved man! Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), He sure came to bring peace! The “sword” would refer to severed relationships amongst men who have decided to take a stand for Jesus and their relatives.
2 Timothy 2:12 (NKJV)
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
The sword is non-literal. These texts have been properly explained. Jesus remains the perfect & absolute standard for discerning the nature of God.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2020.
