Jesus Still Heals... - Effect Radio

Even wounds made by His foolish followers

Experts tell us that it takes around 4 minutes to read 500 words. Today’s portion of the Gospel story comes in at fewer than 350 words. Including my "quarter's worth", you can finish this in fewer than five.

I often tell congregations, "When God repeats something, He intends us to learn from it." And this morning I discovered this episode on Facebook, of all places, just after finishing my Bible-reading schedule. Then, moments later, the same passage broadcast over our sister radio station.

We should learn something.

We're looking in Luke 22, which is appropriate at Lent - that time-honored period of preparation leading to Resurrection Sunday (for the record, I've never valued the common term ‘Easter’ for remembering the sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior).

Luke 22:35(ESV)
And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?"

They said, "Nothing."

He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment."

And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords."

And he said to them, "It is enough."

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Now skip to verse 47

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.

Odd place to pause the larger story, isn’t it? This is a three-part vignette. In the first they’ve just completed the Seder – the Passover meal whose great purpose has been to recall their deliverance from Egypt. But Jesus did something new. He’s just instituted ‘The Lord’s Supper’.

But He followed with something odd, almost out of character.

“When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” No.

But now Jesus wants them to gather their money, along with food and extra clothes. “And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”

It sounds quite ‘out of character’ – at least for the version of Jesus we prefer to promote.

The next part we remember well. Jesus’ passionate prayer at Gethsemane. Powerful. Just not today’s lesson, so we skipped it. Getting back to this sword idea… The third scene – the moment of betrayal... this is our lesson.

Prophecy and fulfillment of Scripture are things outside of time. They already were because God said it. It happened when Jesus fulfilled it. And it remains for us and forever.
Write that down. Remember that.

Peter swung his sword against Malchus and – I gotta ask. “Did Peter know how to use a sword?” Not likely given the wound he caused. That’s our point today.

The church wounds people. Ostensibly it was on Jesus’ earlier instruction that Peter attacked Malchus. We do the same. We don’t know how to use the sword we have in our hands and we wound people. We’d rather not admit it, but we do. So, ask forgiveness, because you can’t fix it, but...

Jesus heals those wounds.
Still. Now. Today.