Calling Down the Angels

Series: The Kingdom

April 05, 2009 | David Crosby
Passage: Matthew 26:47-56

    A crowd armed with clubs and swords came to arrest Jesus. One of their leaders lost an ear to Peter's hasty sword. Jesus ordered him to put away his sword, and he healed the wounded man.

    Jesus then commented to Peter, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53).

    The Father was never far from the mind of Jesus, including during his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He was communing with the Father in Gethsemane and during the confrontation with these armed men. Jesus knew that the Father would grant his request for protection.

    Jesus had the power to resist and to smash the paltry mob that accosted him. The initial response of Jesus to the crowd caused them to fall back and fall down to the ground (John 18:6). In fact, these emissaries of the chief priests seemed to have lost their tongues until Jesus spoke to them again, asking them what they wanted.

    A power beyond anything these soldiers-or disciples-could imagine was ready to respond to the request of Jesus. The crowd exercised no authority over Jesus other than that which he willingly gave to them.

    Jesus was fully capable of a violent response to this violence. How does a person forego immediate victory in order to achieve ultimate victory? How do we know when to call down the angels and when to surrender to the flames? We follow Jesus, and try to do as he did.

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