No need for the sword, the battle is the Lord’s! Still tip-toeing up to Easter morning…you can read our other postings on Holy Week here and here.

Jesus has left the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed “great drops of blood”…asking the Father to remove the “cup” from Him.

“Not my will, but thine be done.” Prayed Jesus.

The disciples slept on…and on…and on. Jesus could not keep them awake. Yet this was a battle He had to fight on His own.

“Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” Matthew 26:46.

The current battle is at hand. Jesus has wrestled all night with His fate, knowing the great task before Him. Yet He gives in to the will of the Father.

“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 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.”

When I was younger, I always felt a little sorry for Peter. He thought he was doing his Lord a favor by intervening on His behalf and chopping off the ear of a soldier! “Impetuous Peter”, we call him. Jesus responds to his hasty overreaction in this fashion,

“But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’” Matthew 26:52-54 NKJV.

Put your sword in its place, Peter! Put your sword in its place ___________ (insert YOUR name here).

How many times have we been like Peter? We think we have it all figured out. We know the ending (or so, we assume). We do not understand why God has not intervened in the situation and just with His spoken Word, sentenced everyone involved to the Lake of Fire. That might be a little dramatic but we are that impulsive at times.

Friends, it isn’t our battle.

The cross belonged to Jesus. He had to give, He had to suffer, He had to endure to the very end. All of this so we would not have to! Yes, He did it for YOU.

He fights.

You rest in confidence.

He wins.

See, He didn’t stay on the cross. Please do not keep Him there! He had to go to Calvary, He had to give His very life as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb so there would be no more need for a sacrifice!

The veil in the temple was torn in two, symbolizing the perishing of the Law and instituting of Grace. No more need for a sacrifice or a mediator. No need to confess your sins to a priest or live in rules and rituals.

He paid the price. He fought the battle. He continues to fight for YOU and ME. On our behalf, He can move mountains, crush the enemy, and send the answer in a moment.

We face anxiousness in this Uncertain Season we find ourselves in right now. But none of it is a surprise to our God! Call on Him, give Him your fears and doubts and flood your days with worship and The Word. He doesn’t intend for you to fight this battle alone either. Be encouraged, Sunday is coming!