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马太福音26：51-56: 51有跟随耶稣的一个人伸手拔出刀来，将大祭司的仆人砍了一刀，削掉了他一个耳朵。52耶稣对他说：“收刀入鞘吧！凡动刀的，必死在刀下。53你想我不能求我父现在为我差遣十二营多天使来吗？54若是这样，经上所说事情必须如此的话怎么应验呢？”55当时，耶稣对众人说：“你们带着刀棒出来拿我，如同拿强盗吗？我天天坐在殿里教训人，你们并没有拿我。56但这一切的事成就了，为要应验先知书上的话。”当下，门徒都离开他逃走了。
我们或许感到惊讶，因为彼得居然配备了一把刀用来随时使用。那天夜晚的早些时候，耶稣曾经警告门徒跟随他是危险的。他说：“但如今有钱囊的可以带着，有口袋的也可以带着，没有刀的要卖衣服买刀。”（路加福音22:36）彼得只是正逢其时罢了。但这还不是奋勇战斗的时候，毕竟，如果耶稣打算奋勇战斗，他完全可以叫一队天使下来保护他。
还记得耶稣的国是“翻转的国”，世俗的价值观和行为方式在这里行不通。世人使用武力来推行其道，就如同当夜那些乌合之众在客西马尼园所行的。耶稣用平和的行为回应了暴力。路加在福音书中记录了耶稣是如何神奇地治愈了大祭司仆人的耳朵。
在追随耶稣的旅途中，我们能使用的最有力量的武器是一把双刃剑，就是神的道。有时候你和朋友争论，因为他们反对你的意见，甚至嘲笑你。但你最终得到了什么？当我们为福音辩护的时候，我们赢得的不是一场辩论，我们赢得的是灵魂。特别是这些人会断然拒绝耶稣，我们就更需要耐心讲授和教导关于我们奇妙救主的事情。在耶稣“翻转的国度里，”神的道永远是我们能使用的最有力量的武器。
祷告：主耶稣，我希望自己会永远捍卫你，即使是在面对你的敌人的时候。但我也希望你能赐我智慧，学会用你的道、而不是世俗的论点去说服别人。祷告奉你的名，阿们！
Matthew 26
Matthew 26:51-56: Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
It might surprise us that Peter was armed and ready to use his sword. But earlier that night, Jesus warned them that it would be dangerous to follow him. He said, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36). It’s just that Peter’s timing was off. This was not the time to stand and make a fight. After all, if Jesus wanted to make a fight of it, then all he had to do was call down an army of angels to protect him.
Remember that Jesus’ kingdom is that “upside down kingdom,” where worldly values and worldly ways just don’t work. The people of the world use force to get their way, as the mob was doing on this night in Gethsemane. Jesus answers the violence with peaceful actions. Luke reports that Jesus miraculously reattached the ear of the servant of the high priest.
The most powerful weapon we can wield in following Jesus is the double-edged sword of God’s Word. You might feel like arguing your case with the friend who opposes you and ridicules you, but what have you gained? I have not “won” an argument when it comes to defending the gospel. But I have won over souls of people who were adamantly opposed to Jesus just by patiently instructing them and teaching them about our wonderful Savior. God’s Word will always be the most powerful weapon we can wield in Jesus’ “upside down kingdom.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that I will always stand up for you, even in the face of your enemies. But I also pray that you will give me the wisdom to use your Word and not worldly arguments to persuade. I ask this in your name. Amen.