Reflecting on Luke 22:47-53“‘No more of this!’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:51)
Peter takes a slice of this enemy to resist him.
Jesus takes the bloody ear and heals the enemy.
Who are the enemies in my life that I want to strike?
Am I responding like Jesus, or like Peter?
In this moment we see the contrast between the Jesus Way and the world’s way.
Our way is to use strength against others, to bring them down.
Jesus uses His strength to heal others, to lift them up.
Peter’s actions only make things worse, adding more hate and anger to the situation.
The world’s way is like throwing water at a grease fire; it only spreads the flame.
Bombs and bullets are a terrible way to bring about order.
The result is not a change of heart, but an even harder heart.
The Jesus Way seems weak and foolish, but it is how God overcomes evil.
Imagine if Christians everywhere actually followed the Jesus Way?
They might get crucified for it, but we know what God does about that!
Once again Jesus inspires me with His love, and calls me to His radical way!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I do not want to hate or hurt others. Use my words and my hands to help and to heal... including those that I dislike or see as opponents. I want to follow Your Way, because it is the only way, the true way to life!
The following hymn came to my mind as I read today’s passage,
1 Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your healing power,
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2 Make me a channel of your peace:
where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light,
and where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3 O, Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
4 Make me a channel of your peace:
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.