The Power to Submit

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. (John 18:1-14, NIV)

QUESTION TO PONDER:

What feelings well up inside you when you hear the word submission?  Is it peaceful, calm—a good feeling or is it a gnawing feeling that you have lost—you are the loser?  What about the word fight?  Do you recoil or does it charge you up?  Which word draws you—fight or submit?

SHORT VERSION OF WHAT'S GOING ON:

The ball has started rolling in the story towards our redemption.  Jesus and His disciples have gone to a favorite hangout to pray and the soldiers and church people arrive with weapons and lanterns to arrest Him.  Jesus’ response when they said they are looking for Jesus the Nazarene was, “I AM.”  At that, his opponents fell to the ground.  During the arrest Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of a soldier.  Jesus healed the ear and told Peter that He must drink the cup of suffering His Father gave Him.

REFLECTIONS:

I can relate to Peter—everything in me leans to fight not submit.  Jesus, knowing the torture coming His way, still went to the place He was known to hang out.  He submitted His will to the Father’s will.  At the sound of His name “I AM,” His aggressors fell back.  Jesus had all the power of God He could have used; He could out think them and out power them… but chose to submit.  That same power is inside of us now!

POINT OF PONDER, ACTION AND PRAYER:

We have the power of the almighty God dwelling in us—wrap your head around that!  That power, that caused soldiers to fall at just the mention of His name, allows us to fight in the battles of the seen as well as the unseen.  My prayer is that I will stay connected with the Commander so that I will know when to use the power to fight and when to use it to do something much harder…to submit, to stand down.

WHO AM I?

Hi!  I’m Cinda Brooks. I’m grieving the loss of a dear friend—Rusty.  I run alone on the trails we shared together and sit alone in my favorite chair he would lie beside.  He was a great friend, a fierce defender and full of love.  Like me, he struggled with when to fight when to defend and when to submit…