Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I thank the Lord that I am able to post the sermon this week. I hope and pray that everyone is doing well.
Writing has gone well this week, and I am thankful to the Lord for this. We've been having a lot of cold weather, but the daffodils are out around the house, and I know that the warmer days of Spring are just around the corner.
In prayer this week, I would ask that all us pray for those in Papua New Guinea. I read a report that the United Nations is there helping to deliver aid to people, but there are still many people there who still need a lot of help. Pray that these people will receive the aid that they need.
I have an answer to prayer that I would like to report. We had been praying in regard to the cholera epidemic in Yemen. I heard a report that the cholera epidemic has been contained. I am very grateful for this.
Please continue to pray for the people in Puerto Rico. Some still do not have power, and some are still without water.
Continue to pray for peace in this troubled world. Syria needs peace. Let's also pray for South Sudan, Afghanistan and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for the nations of Djibouti and Mongolia. Pray that many in these nations will hear of the love of Jesus.
Last week, I posted a message about the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Today, we return to our series. We are currently in a series dealing with misinterpreted passages in the Bible, and verses that are taken out of context.
The passage that we will deal with today has been in the news in my country as many Christians who are opposed to gun control have been quoting it as a justification that it is alright to own guns. I think that we will see, that this passage has nothing to do with that in any way.
In Luke 22 verses 35-38, we find Jesus speaking to His disciples on the night in which He was betrayed. He reminds His disciples of the time that He told them to go on a journey and not to take a purse or a cloak. Now, Jesus tells them something different. Here is Luke 22:35-38, "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. It is written, "And he was numbered with the transgressors," and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching fulfillment. The disciples said, See, Lord here are two swords. That's Enough! He replied."
First of all, Jesus is not instructing His disciples to arm themselves and start carrying swords in this passage. We will see why that is in a moment. Let's look at the two meanings that most Bible scholars give to this passage.
One interpretation of many Bible scholars is that Jesus is speaking metaphorically in this passage. He is telling His disciples that He is about to die, and things will be different for His followers. They will face danger and persecution on His behalf. They need to understand that the road before them will be hard.
The disciples thought that Jesus was speaking literally. They presented Him with two swords. Jesus said, "That's enough" as a way of telling His disciples to quit that type of talk. He wasn't speaking about literal swords.
Jesus wasn't saying that is enough as if that is enough swords. If Jesus wanted all eleven of the disciples to have a sword, two would certainly not suffice.
Now, what is the other interpretation of this passage. In this passage, Jesus speaks about the prophecy is Isaiah that the Messiah would be numbered among the transgressors. This view holds that Jesus wanted at least a couple of swords to be present so that this prophecy could be fulfilled.
We see this when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Jesus wondered why they came out against Him with swords and clubs as if He were the leader of a rebellion. Peter swings his sword and cuts off a man's ear.
Jesus orders Peter to put away the sword. Jesus said whoever lives by the sword will die by the sword. Jesus healed the man's severed ear, and then Jesus was taken into custody. He was numbered with the transgressors in the fulfillment of prophecy.
I tend to favor the first interpretation, but I think the second has some good points. I don't believe that Jesus was literally telling the disciples to get a sword, and He was upset when they thought that He was. Jesus was not pleased with Peter's action against the high priest's servant. Jesus made it clear that His followers were not to live by the sword.
If Jesus had actually wanted the disciples to carry swords, He would not have been upset and told them not to do it just hours later.
Now, how is this relevant to us. First of all, in my country, conservative Christians tend to equate God and guns in some strange way that I do not understand. I wrote on the blog a year ago about the church that was having gun raffles to get more people to attend.
In my understanding of the teachings of Jesus, He spoke about non-violence and turning the other check. He stated that His kingdom was not to be promoted by violent means.
In my country, we have the highest death by gun rate of any country in the Western world. Any attempt to regulate weapons is quickly turned aside by stiff opposition. This opposition is often from conservative, evangelical Christians. I do not understand this.
Many evangelical Christians have used the verse that we are studying today to justify their collection and possession of all types of guns. I hope that I have at least pointed out some other much more scholarly interpretations.
Jesus said that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. This applies to people and to nations. Nations that are warlike and rely on militarism will eventually fall. People that resort to violence often meet a violent end.
Sadly, so few people have listened to the teachings of Jesus even among those who claim to be His followers. Look at what Christian people have done in the name of Jesus. There have been wars, persecutions and destruction all carried out by people using the name of Jesus.
One of the worst wars in European history was the Thirty Years War between Catholics and Protestants. Hundreds of thousands were killed. In the book I reviewed two weeks ago "Tomorrow" there is a section dealing with the devastation from this war.
How Jesus must weep when He sees the violence that is carried out in His name. How Jesus must weep when He sees those who claim to be His followers advocating violence and amassing armaments. This is not the way of the Prince of Peace.
Jesus is our example. I cannot image Jesus taking up arms against someone.
I haven't written this message to take up a position about any specific gun control legislation. I just want people to interpret the message of Jesus correctly and realize that Jesus is for peace and non-violence.
Please, read the Sermon on the Mount. Within it you will see that rules of behavior that Jesus established for those who would be part of His kingdom. Jesus tells us within the Sermon on the Mount to love our enemies.
Next week, we will continue with our series looking at the passage where Paul states "those who do not work shall not eat". On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I will post a review of another good dog book. May God bless you all. Amen.
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