A Child of God’s Garden of Adversity

Part 1: I Come to the Garden Well-Armed

Isn’t it interesting how one can hear scriptures over and over through the years and not question little oddities in them? And unless they are pointed out by a teacher or preacher, one might never even notice them, without some deeper biblical perusal on one’s own. Now that I am an old fella, I’m beginning to notice some of these things, like the proliferation of armaments in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Jesus was betrayed.

I don’t remember seeing anywhere in the Gospels that a sword and scabbard was standard equipment for one of Christ’s disciples. In fact, when he sent the twelve out to spread the Good Word, luggage was verboten. In Matthew and Luke, it would have been easier for him to tell them to take nothing rather than instructing them to leave behind food, money, bags, extra clothes and shoes, and the favorite walking stick. Of course, they did get the power, and that was vital—no earthly weapons, though.

So, what possessed them to strap on the scabbard to do a little praying in the garden? The only reference to the weapon prior to the ear removal comes in Luke 22:38. Having just related to Peter his coming denials, in verses 35-37 Jesus harkens back to when he sent them out without a thing, and then tells them to be prepared to take money and if unarmed, sell your cloak and buy a sword. It appears that they can hang onto the cloaks for now because someone finds a couple of swords stashed in the upper room.

Did they then proceed to the garden, with the mistaken notion that their leader was at last ready to do battle and become their messianic liberator? We can hardly blame them if they did, considering what Our Lord had been involved with since arriving in the temple city:

• Entered into Jerusalem with crowds declaring that He comes in the name of the Lord.
• Overcome with grief over Jerusalem as he prophesizes its destruction.
• Shook up the temple area by driving out those selling in its precincts.
• Challenged by the religious authorities concerning his beliefs
• Telling tales which were not so subtle challenges of the chief priests and scribes who continually spoke of the law but not of the love of God.
• Spoke openly about the end times, the coming persecution, and the return of the Son of Man.
• Returned daily to the temple area to preach among those who were conspiring to silence him for good.
• While at the meal, told of the coming betrayal and Peter’s denial.

Sounds like Jerusalem was a Passover pot getting ready to boil over, and the apostles could hardly fail to notice that, and may have been sharing in the Messianic frenzy. No wonder they scarfed up the handy weapons.

Obviously, these were not professional freedom fighters, since in the midst of whatever passion they had for the coming fight, they fell asleep. In Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts, they did this three times. Jesus was no more secure with his ragtag apostolic army than King Saul was surrounded by his sleeping troops while his supposed enemy David meandered through the camp.

It was necessary for Jesus to rouse them from their post Passover stupor and tell them that Judas and the cops had come. And in the face of superior numbers and arms, one of them (Peter, according to John’s account) promptly sliced off one of the servants’ ears. Needless to say, Jesus put a stop to any notion that his followers were going to begin lopping off their adversaries’ parts. In fact, in Luke someone asked Jesus’ permission to do a little swordplay, then went ahead without waiting for an answer. Though not mentioned in any of the other accounts, Luke has Jesus putting the ear back, which was a surefire way to prevent hostilities from escalating further.

Thus, the Battle of Gethsemane ends before it gets underway, and Jesus is captured and removed. The rest of the disciples may have fled (at least that is what Matthew and Mark say) with one or two notable exceptions and the tale of one of these stragglers will be taken up in part two.

Part 2: Curiosity nearly kills the apostle

Consider that if John the evangelist was correct (and he was there), Peter had committed a serious crime against one of those accompanying the arresting officials. Knowing the way that tyrants and their collaborationist minions feel about open and violent rebellion, there shouldn’t be any doubt that Simon Peter was risking arrest following along behind, even at a distance, yet that is what he did.

No sooner did he sit down in the High Priest’s courtyard, then he got tagged: “This man too was with him.” To affirm this would likely mean free admittance to the inquisition inside, so it is no wonder that he instinctively denied knowing Jesus. Then two more accusers, with the last one recognizing Peter as a Galilean. Danger was closing in around him, but before he could decide what to do, the cock crowed, and Jesus’ prediction stripped his subterfuge and broke his spirit.

So rather than run away with the others at the garden, the Apostolic Rock chose to go after his Master, but couldn’t quite follow him all the way. Because of this, he is known not as one of the apostles who stayed after the arrest, but as Peter the Denier.

It’s difficult not to focus on that divine prediction of the trifold disavowal, and reject the fearful leader for not recognizing his own failure until the third strike retired him weeping from the scene. Jesus knew that his chosen leader couldn’t just run away from the ordeal. The gift He gave to his fisherman was that in spite of the knowledge of Our Lord, he was not rejected, tossed aside as being too weak to cut it. In fact, Luke relates that right before the denial prediction, Jesus asks Peter to strengthen his brothers “once you have turned back.”

It is a message of hope for everyone when we fall short in our service to God. God knows we will, but still wants us to turn back and encourage others who are weak like us. As Paul says, He comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others in need with the same consolation we have received. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

We will fail our Creator. We will weep and feel ashamed. But rather than be discouraged, let us remember that our God knows us better than we know ourselves. He is always ready to console us when we turn back as did Peter.