I’m not sure that Mrs. Dellinger did me a favor. She was teaching my Sunday School class when I was in elementary school. Someone asked her, “How do I decide what is the right thing to do?” She said, “Use Jesus as an example. Jesus shows us how God wants things to be done.”
That bit of advice certainly puts a crimp in how I think things ought to be done. What would Jesus do? What would Jesus have me do? (Or what would Jesus not do and what would Jesus have me not do?)
This week’s focal text is a case in point. Jesus calls his betrayer “friend” (Matthew 26:50). When Peter whacks off the ear of a perceived enemy, Jesus tells him to put away the sword (Matthew 26:52). When the attackers showed up with swords and clubs, Jesus asked them why they thought they needed that to arrest a peaceful man (Matthew 26:47, 55). Is this the Jesus I want to show me how to react to enemies? Is this the Jesus I want to tell me how to treat those who don’t agree with me? Is this the Jesus I want to demonstrate how to handle troublesome relationships?
I guess this is an example of “Be careful what you pray for.”
The truth is that sometimes my spirit is violent even when my actions are not. I may keep my outburst under control, but in my inner spirit there is still a rumbling of anger or distrust or attack. Jesus is transparent; His behavior matches what His Spirit is offering.
Violence begets violence (Matthew 26:52). Violence seldom proves who is right; it only proves who is stronger. This lesson is not easy to hear. Notice how this week’s focal text ends: the disciples desert Jesus and run away (Matthew 26:56). No doubt they had figured that when push came to shove, Jesus would erupt with violent resistance. What about the “twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)? If ever there was to be a time for Jesus to call in the troops, this was it. But He doesn’t. And the disciples leave Him.
It’s seventy-five years since Mrs. Dellinger gave me that advice. I’m still working on it.
What Someone Else Has Said: In a study of the Psalms (From Whom No Secrets Are Hid, Westminster John Knox), Walter Brueggemann has written: “We might hope and wish that we could catch up to Jesus and his readiness to forgive. But it clear that we have not arrived there yet.”
Prayer: As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: “How do I serve You, Lord?...”
