What Jesus Did! 'Pulling the Sword' — Mark 14:47

Friday, November 8, 2024

[After Judas betrayed Jesus to the mob,] one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear.

Key Thought

Peter and the apostles had all agreed that they would die with Jesus if necessary. [1] Yet their thoughts seemed locked into a wrong way to view their Lord as Messiah. Apparently they thought he would be a military and political deliverer. So in what seems like an attempt to start the battle of deliverance, Peter drew a sword and began the fight. [2] He surely was thinking that this Jesus he had seen raise the dead, heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, mend the limbs of the lame, open the ears of the deaf, and give perfect skin to the leprous would also use his power for victory over an armed crowd. So in an act of faith, defiance, and hope, the sword was drawn and the attack was begun. It was aimed at the house of those behind this whole evil scheme - the high priest and his gang of Sadducean thugs. While Peter's action was totally misguided, he did show courage and the passion and his commitment to die with Jesus if necessary. Unfortunately, when Jesus refused to be that kind of Messiah, all of Jesus' followers deserted him. [3] Ignorance of the Lord's will is not bliss, but disaster. Passion is good, but if it is misguided, it is also dangerous. Our hearts need to be tuned to the Savior or else we will miss his direction and find ourselves embarrassed and defeated.

Today's Prayer

O Lord God, ruler of heaven and earth, teach me to know your ways and walk in your will. May I live with passion, but may that passion always be expressed in the direction of your will. May I live with courage, but may that courage be demonstrated in righteous actions. Search me, O God, and correct anything wrong in me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 14:47 NLT — [After Judas betrayed Jesus to the mob,] one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest's slave, slashing off his ear.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, November 8, 2024

Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, Help all of us who reverence Christ to be submissive to each other, even as he submitted himself to the people about him so that he..."
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
"I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy."
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
"Dear Friend, I love it when one of My servants makes the message about Me and My grace very clear and concise. The apostle Paul was hoping to join..."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.