How Can Jesus Teach Us How to Respond When We Are Attacked?

One of the things that always amazes me about the account of Jesus' last days is how calm he is. Let's look at how he responds when he is confronted and arrested by a detachment of soldiers led by Judas. Maybe we can learn something.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

1. Jesus did not have to go peacefully.  He clearly had power with which he could have escaped easily.  Instead he gave them a glimpse of his deity.  When he uttered the words "I am he" he is referring to the divine Name the Israelites used to address their God,Yahweh.  After getting a glimpse of His divinty the soldiers fell to the ground in awe of the Divine presence.  

2. Jesus didn't shrink away when they came to arrest him.  He practically said, "Here I am arrest me!"  Jesus knew the plan was going to unfold this way.  He knew Judas would betray him.  He knew Peter would betray him.  Jesus told them "I am he" twice almost in effect saying, "Come on get on with what you came here to do." 

3. Jesus was more concerned about the fate of the disciples than himself.

One commentator says it this way, 

"This was the same sacrificial love that would find its ultimate peak at the cross. It also shows why Jesus knocked the soldiers to the ground; the show of power was to protect the disciples, not Jesus Himself." (Guzik)

A question you and I might ask ourselves is how do I respond when I am personally being threatened?  Jesus had all the weapons at his disposal to fight power with power, yet he cared more about his friends than his own skin.  He gave a measured response, which showed he was the one actually in control.  

I am sure there is an application for us as we face how to respond to the challenges and anger in our country right now.  As we approach these challenges in our world we should be asking, "How would Jesus respond?"  Would he react to the accusations all of us might be feeling? Would he think about how to serve others in the midst of the personal attack he was receiving? How can I do that? If you are like me, when I am personally attacked, I want to strike out at the one who is trying to bring me down.  I am hoping that as we look at Jesus' humble, self sacrificial attitude and actions, we respond in a Christ-like manner.  I believe by responding like Jesus might can lead to real change in our country. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more