SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:47-53
Is Jesus leading a rebellion?
Should we as Jesus followers fight with swords and clubs to establish God’s kingdom?
This is how the ISIS extremists see their role, fighting to set up an Islamic state based on sharia law.
But notice the connection between ‘swords and clubs’ and ‘when darkness reigns’.
Ask the victims in Mosul or Tikrit about darkness reigning.
Or the victims of crusades – past and present – led by Christians against non-Christians.
Moral darkness is still reigning in our world, “should Christians strike with their swords?”
This is NOT how we are called to advance God’s kingdom!
History is filled with attempts to establish a better world through force – it doesn’t work.
Jesus introduces a better way – God’s way – of establishing peace.
By being peace, living peace, demonstrating grace, being a servant.
Through grace, we have been renewed; now through grace we are agents of renewal.
We are called to change the world, but not through force, pressure.
Instead of protesting, try demonstrating… be the change that you want to see.
This is how God in Christ overcomes the darkness.
This is how Christ in us overcomes the darkness.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, today You will give me opportunities to be the light that overcomes the darkness. Help me to live, to love and to lead like You. May others experience Your grace through me.
Observation/Application
Hypocrisy. Two-facedness. What is on the inside will come out. Judas – a disciple of Jesus – a Jesus follower betrayed His Saviour with a kiss. Our actions don’t necessarily show where our heart really lies.
Impetuously, a follower drew the sword and cur off the ear of the high priest. But the kingdom of light does not work that way. The opposition had time and time again the opportunity to take Jesus but had to do it in darkness for they thought it would hide their evilness. Darkness covers their actions or does it. And darkness still covers the earth as we see the violence of the day. The kingdom of darkness is a brutal force. Yet, the kingdom of light will prevail. God is the Ruler yet and one day His kingdom will come in full. He is the healing power of this present darkness using His followers to proclaim the Good News by being ‘foot washers’ – instruments of His peace.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
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 consolded 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.