The events recorded in Luke chapter 22 move rapidly. It begins with what anyone would expect. Jesus planned to observe the Passover with his disciples and instructed Peter and John to make the preparations that were necessary. After the meal Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper or communion. He compares his body to bread and his blood to wine.
The mood of the disciples rapidly changed when Jesus announced that one of them would betray him. They inquired among themselves who would be the traitor. In an instant their mood changed as they bickered among themselves for who would be the greatest among them. This must’ve been disheartening and hurtful to Jesus. It seemed that they did not take him seriously when he said there would be a betrayal. They were more interested in their own standing among others.
Jesus confronted Peter about his own spiritual and moral strength even though he boasted it to be great. He told his disciple that it was necessary that he pray for him. Peter was a presumptuous braggart who thought more of himself than he should. Humility was not one of his key characteristics.
Christ reminded the disciples that on a previous occasion he sent them out to witness for the gospel without taking any supplies or precautions. They were to depend on the good nature of those that they met even for food. Abruptly it seemed that Christ changed his mind when he told the disciples in verse 38 that they needed to have swords. This is not a contradiction in his instructions to them.
In reply Peter said they had two swords, one of which he carried. Jesus did not carry a sword himself but did not object to his disciples caring the weapon. So why did he tell them not to take anything and then suddenly tell them they needed to take so much that it included a sword? Analyze the factors that were happening at that moment.
Jesus was about to be arrested and murdered and was preoccupied with his resurrection. The disciples needed to be as equipped as possible to face the new circumstances that were coming upon them quickly. They did not fight against those who were resting Jesus but fled. A sword was of no use because God’s plan was unfolding. In the near future when the disciples began to evangelize, they might need protection against robbers and assassins as they traveled.
The contrast between the two instructions of Jesus to not take the sword and then later to have a sword are very telling. Originally, they traveled under the watch care of friends and sympathizers. Later they would go to other areas that might be hostile. The lesson here is that we must always be prepared for the unexpected as we serve the Lord. We cannot be presumptuous upon the particular situation. We must anticipate wherever and however we find ourselves placed in a particular circumstance. We are admonished in many ways throughout the New Testament to be prepared in whatever way is necessary. Assumptions are not valid in fulfilling the ministry Christ is assigned to us.
Christian Writer 