Matthew 26:51-56 Light in the Power of Darkness

“All of this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled,” Jesus in Matthew 26:56 

“He is magnificent and pathetic.” (D.A. Carson, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, p. 547, speaking of Peter in this passage)

“The church has never made advances by physical warfare, and every time it has tried, the cause of Christ has been severely harmed.”   ( John MacArthur, New Testament Commentary, Matthew 24-28)

The most infamous act of betrayal ever has just been laid upon the cheek of Jesus.  Immediately after the kiss, when Jesus identified Himself as “I am He” to the mob, “they drew back and fell to the ground,” (John 18:6). The soldiers “armed with swords and clubs” (v. 47), quickly “laid hands on Jesus and seized Him,” (v. 50).

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear, (v. 51).    We learn from John’s gospel that it was Peter who drew his sword and the name of his victim was Malchus (John 18:10).  Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (v. 52)

Does the proverb all who take the sword, will perish by the sword rise no higher than secular pacifism among religious pluralism?  Granted, Jesus is certainly affirming here the Beatitude “blessed are the peacemakers” (5:9).  Additionally, Jesus heals the ear of Malchus (Luke 22:51), the servant of the very man who arrests Jesus.  Jesus’ act of peace and His healing power trumps the calculated cold evil of His enemy and the impulsive hot violence of His key disciple.   

But maybe Jesus is pointing to something beyond just an earthly proverb:  perhaps He is pointing to the Final Judgment when those who raise their sword against God will perish by the sword of His mouth (see Revelation 19:15).   Regardless, we know that Jesus is choosing to not usurp the will of God even if it means injustice and suffering on His part.   If self-preservation is Jesus’ highest goal, would He not appeal to His Father and would He not at once send Jesus more than twelve legions (72,000) of angels? (v. 53) 

Here Peter’s valor reaches a crescendo. After all, did he not vow to die with Jesus? (see v. 25)   Maybe Peter would have been arrested and executed with Jesus if Malchus had not jerked his head away.  But once again, Peter unwittingly aligns himself against the will of God.  For if Peter had succeeded in rescuing Jesus, “how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (i.e., “that His death must happen?” v. 54)  If the Messiah is to be “wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5), then how will this happen unless He suffers? 

At that hour, maybe as He was being led to Caiaphas, Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.”  Even though earlier as He taught in the temple, the chief priests and Pharisees “were seeking to arrest Him,” they did not since “they feared the crowds because they held him to be a prophet” (21:46).    
The Lord carefully orchestrated these events leading up to His crucifixion.  “All this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”  If our Lord died an old man in His sleep after a long life, then prophecies about the suffering Messiah, such as Isaiah chapter 53, Psalm 22:1, Daniel 9:26 and others, would not have been fulfilled by Jesus.

Our Lord was faithful, even in the midst of suffering and injustice, to the will of God.   In spite of their promises to stand with Him (see v. 35), all the disciples left him and fled (v. 56).  Everything about that night outside of Gethsemane was darkness.  For it was the appointed hour of the power of darkness (see Luke 22:53).  But even in the darkness the light of Christ shone: the light that proclaims Christ as Lord, heals the wounded, makes peace and obeys the will of the Father.  This is why “the darkness has not overcome” the light (John 1:5). Nor will it ever.    Draw near to Him and He will save you since He “lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25).   What an awesome God we serve!

 

This is a photo of a tapestry that hangs in the Vatican Museum.  Lower middle one can see Jesus healing Malchus' ear.