Luke 22:49-54

Luke 22:49-54 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour — when darkness reigns.” Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.

When Jesus' followers understood he was going to be arrested, they resisted. I am sure the scene was quite chaotic for a while, even swords were drawn with the result that Peter injured the servant of the high priest. But Jesus said, No more of this resisting and fighting. Jesus' order must have upset his followers, for they were willing to defend him even at their own peril. However, Jesus knew God's purpose was to allow THE LIGHT to be snuffed out by the darkness. For a while darkness would reign. Jesus would be incapsulated in this darkness, separating him from the very kingdom of God. Jesus would carry the sins of mankind upon him, making him an anathema to God. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” — which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) God's redemption plan included all this, to allow men to enter into the kingdom of God.

They seized Jesus and led him away. Jesus had told Peter that when he was old, they would lead Peter away to where he did not want to go. Over the years, evil men seized thousands, maybe millions of Christians and led them away to their deaths. God's plan for our lives is not always for our deliverance from the plots of men. Since we have only one life to live, such hardship seems difficult or even impossible to accept. Why should we put our lives in danger for others or allow our time on Earth to be shortened? In our humanness, we want to escape to a safe place, a secure house, a strong America. Truly, no one desires imprisonment, danger, or an early demise. If we did, we probably would be mentally unstable. Still, the Bible says we are supposed to love our neighbors as we LOVE OURSELVES. Yet, to die for Christ is not an easy mission to fulfill. But the Bible indicates we are to die daily, die to our wishes, our own personal pursuits. That is why we put on the whole armor of God. God does not give us this protection so we might have better living conditions, an easier life. No, we need our armor because we are in a death struggle with the devil himself, a life and death battle.

That day as the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders led him away, Jesus laid down his life. He knew the rabble had come not only to arrest him, but to kill him. Yet, He willingly accompanied them, for He knew this was the will of Father God. Jesus succumbed to the will of the mob because He knew God's plan was to redeem mankind. Because of his willingness to be led to the cross, we, the redeemed, can come into the very presence of God with Abba Father on our lips. Jesus' obedience, death, and resurrection made all who believe in his work an integral part of God's kingdom; we are in him and He is in us. We are no longer just created beings that will eventually turn to dust; we, who believe, are ETERNAL BEINGS, existing with God forever. This wonderful plan of salvation awaits all who repent and accept Jesus as Lord. As Christians, we lay our lives down to reveal this truth to mankind. Our lives should reveal God's salvation plan to all those who sit in darkness, for they, the blind, cannot see what we see. My friends, take every opportuntity to tell the blind of the "good news": Christ came to open the portals of heaven. He came to redeem sinners, making them children of God, adopted into the family of God through his saving works, to live with him forever. Amen!