Two Swords
Read Luke 22:1-38.
The end is drawing near. We're now in the second half of the final week—Thursday night, by all tradition. Jesus and the disciples, his closest friends, are gathered in the Upper Room (a large guest room in a Judean home) and together they have shared the Passover Feast. This night was laden with tradition and symbolism, but Jesus has taken all of that and turned it on its head. He has given them a new practice, one they won't understand quite for some time yet. We call it "holy communion" or "the Lord's Supper" or "the Eucharist." For these men in this room, it was simply dinner.
Judas has agreed to betray the Lord. Luke says, contrary to the way we usually think, this was not Judas' plan until Satan entered him (22:3). We know the end from the beginning, that Judas betrays Jesus. But until now, Judas has been a faithful companion. He's a disciple who got lost along the way. We may never know why (though I and others have, of course, speculated), but on this dark night, Judas' course becomes set.
Jesus seems very conscious of fulfilling prophecy. In Luke's telling of the story, Jesus is especially focused on the scripture from Isaiah 53:12, one describing the so-called Suffering Servant: he "was numbered with the transgressors." Jesus, of course, has not done anything to be called a transgressor or a rebel (NLT), but tonight he will be accused of being one. Perhaps that is a key to understanding the curious conversation about the swords. When Jesus is talking about the way he is going to be treated in the coming hours, he suggests they bring a sword. Is that so he will be seen by those coming against him as the rebel suggested by the Scripture? I don't know; it's possible. As I said, Jesus is very consciously fulfilling the predictions of the Old Testament on this night of all nights.
It's even more curious that the disciples, who have been with this man who taught that peacemakers are blessed (Matthew 5:9), have two swords with them. What did they use them for? Why did they carry them around? Had they kept them hidden from Jesus? But, apparently, they didn't have to go out and find any. They already had two. So Jesus says, "That's enough." Had he really intended to fight his way out of whatever situation was to come, two swords would not be enough for the twelve of them, and certainly not against the army that is coming after them. I actually think Jesus says "That's enough" to put an end to the conversation and move on. "That's enough for now. You'll see what I'm talking about soon enough." The same Jesus who speaks of swords here later will tell Peter to put his sword away. Jesus intends to look like a rebel but he does not intend to act like one.
The end is near. His story is drawing to a close. But the best is still yet to come.
The end is drawing near. We're now in the second half of the final week—Thursday night, by all tradition. Jesus and the disciples, his closest friends, are gathered in the Upper Room (a large guest room in a Judean home) and together they have shared the Passover Feast. This night was laden with tradition and symbolism, but Jesus has taken all of that and turned it on its head. He has given them a new practice, one they won't understand quite for some time yet. We call it "holy communion" or "the Lord's Supper" or "the Eucharist." For these men in this room, it was simply dinner.Judas has agreed to betray the Lord. Luke says, contrary to the way we usually think, this was not Judas' plan until Satan entered him (22:3). We know the end from the beginning, that Judas betrays Jesus. But until now, Judas has been a faithful companion. He's a disciple who got lost along the way. We may never know why (though I and others have, of course, speculated), but on this dark night, Judas' course becomes set.
Jesus seems very conscious of fulfilling prophecy. In Luke's telling of the story, Jesus is especially focused on the scripture from Isaiah 53:12, one describing the so-called Suffering Servant: he "was numbered with the transgressors." Jesus, of course, has not done anything to be called a transgressor or a rebel (NLT), but tonight he will be accused of being one. Perhaps that is a key to understanding the curious conversation about the swords. When Jesus is talking about the way he is going to be treated in the coming hours, he suggests they bring a sword. Is that so he will be seen by those coming against him as the rebel suggested by the Scripture? I don't know; it's possible. As I said, Jesus is very consciously fulfilling the predictions of the Old Testament on this night of all nights.
It's even more curious that the disciples, who have been with this man who taught that peacemakers are blessed (Matthew 5:9), have two swords with them. What did they use them for? Why did they carry them around? Had they kept them hidden from Jesus? But, apparently, they didn't have to go out and find any. They already had two. So Jesus says, "That's enough." Had he really intended to fight his way out of whatever situation was to come, two swords would not be enough for the twelve of them, and certainly not against the army that is coming after them. I actually think Jesus says "That's enough" to put an end to the conversation and move on. "That's enough for now. You'll see what I'm talking about soon enough." The same Jesus who speaks of swords here later will tell Peter to put his sword away. Jesus intends to look like a rebel but he does not intend to act like one.The end is near. His story is drawing to a close. But the best is still yet to come.
Thank you for asking the same questions as I.
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