Jesus and the Pope: When Attacked with a Weapon

The Pope tweeted over this past weekend, “Do we really want peace? Then let’s ban all weapons so we don’t have to live in fear of war.”

That’s an illogical statement and runs counter to the basic law of cause and effect. The Pope is claiming that weapons (cause) creates war (effect). No, that’s backwards. But this isn’t a philosophical debate. It’s purely spiritual. 

Let’s take a look at something Jesus did and said when attacked with a weapon.

“And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:47-52).

“Put up again” comes from the Greek, “apostrephō” means to return back. In this case, to return the sword back to its sheath.

“…for all they that take the sword…” “Lambanō” is the Greek word for “that take” and means to take with the intent of using. In this case the sword was taken in hand with the intent of forcibly using it. It is a reference to those who lead with the sword and use the sword as their first option and recourse.

But Jesus had a divine option as His first course of action as revealed in the next verse.

“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)

Do you know what Jesus was being in this situation? Meek. He wasn’t being meek when he called for the sword to be put away. He was being meek when he withheld the twelve legions of angels.

Meek does not mean passive as we would interpret it today. Meekness, as displayed by Jesus here, is a controlled, calm, inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit within. If the roles had been reversed, Jesus would have never pulled out the sword, but the “one of them which were with Jesus” would have unleashed all of heaven’s helpers on Judas.

The Old Testament Hebrew word for meek is, “Anav” which means afflicted, miserable and by implication, humble.

The New Testament Greek word for meek is, “Praÿs” which means a settled, calm and controlled spirit.

When you stop to think about it, what else could calm you and guide you wisely other than the Holy Spirit within when confronting the devil?

We learn in John 18:10 that it was Simon Peter who drew the sword, striking the servant and severing his ear. Peter, although reacting out of love for Jesus and wanting to protect Him, also reacted carnally and rashly out of a disquieted spirit.

This spirit within Peter was this same spirit that caused him to try to stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem.  When Peter learned that Christ must go there to be crucified, buried and resurrected he said, “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee” (Matthew 16:22).

Jesus reacted to Peter trying to stop Him by saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:23).

Now let’s bring this full circle. Over the weekend the Pope said, “Do we really want peace? Then let’s ban all weapons so we don’t have to live in fear of war.”

The Pope is thinking like Peter, which would make sense because the Catholic religion, or more specifically the papal position is based on the continuation of the role of Peter. But the Pope doesn’t want the sword put back into its sheath and under the control of a meek, controlled and Holy Spirit filled person. The Pope wants the sword and sheath gone, eliminated. The only problem is, is that Judas and the devil are still coming.

Remember, Jesus didn’t just refrain from using the temporal sword, He also held back the full force of twelve legions of angels. He could have unleashed not Hell, but something much more powerful, Jesus could have unleashed Heaven! Now that’s being meek!

So it is odd that the spiritual leader of the Catholic faith is thinking in terms of earthly options. The Pope is reacting like Peter. Peter tried to save Jesus by attempting to stop the forthcoming crucifixions. He tried to save Jesus from the devil himself inside Judas. Peter relied on temporal, earthly things and did not put his faith in Christ or reliance on the Holy Spirit. Consequently his actions were rash and of a disquieted spirt, so disquieted that Jesus saw what was happening said, “Get thee behind me, Satan”.

Live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword. In other words, someone who lives violently, will most likely die in said fashion.

Jesus once sent His disciples out into the world with no money and no sword. He did this so they would learn faith and reliance in Him. Afterwards Jesus said, “But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one” (Luke 22:36).

So you see, when eyes are opened and faith is learned, Jesus instructed His followers to buy and carry a sword. Why? Because evil exists, the prince of the air, the devil, is in this world. But it takes a person imbued with the Holy Spirit, a child of God empowered with meekness to wield or sheath the sword.

Bill Hitchcock