Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus found His disciples, “Peter, James and John” asleep while He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and after allowing them to continue sleeping for a while said, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that does betray me. And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, why are you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse fifty-one of his book, Matthew writes how, “one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword” where we read:
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
The verse reads, “And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, ...” Matthew began words, “and, behold” which means “and look, lo and see”, “one of them” or “a certain one of the disciples” “which were with Jesus” which means “who was alongside Jesus”, “stretched out his hand” or “extended his hand”, “and drew his sword” which means “and unsheathed that disciple's large knife, small sword or curved sword for a cutting stroke”. Matthew shared how one of Jesus' disciples, (Peter which is revealed in John 18:10), “unsheathed” his “sword” to defend Jesus.
The verse goes on to say, “... and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear..” Matthew continued with the words, “and struck a servant” or “and smote one of the bondmen, slaves or one who was in servile work” “of the high priest's” or “belonging to the chief priest”, “and smote off his ear” which means “and cut off the servant's ear”. Matthew shared how Peter “struck” the high priest's “bondman” and cut off his ear.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Peter attempted to go to battle for Jesus, and although He only “cut off an ear”, he must have been bold to begin this battle with such a large multitude of religious leaders, elders and others around him. Jesus needed no one to defend Him, and this part of the story also plays into Jesus' intentional walk toward the “cross” to die for the “sins” of mankind. God loves people, and His desire is to “save” them from their “sins” so they might live with Him forever and ever. Each step along this path toward the cross was on behalf of every person reading these words, and those who are wise shall submit themselves to Jesus who is all knowing and powerful and desires to be their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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