Sheath Your Sword

Bread and Wine Reading: "Sheath Your Sword", John Dear

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26: 50-52
Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

It seems odd to talk about non-violence in the midst of one of the most (for us) violent times in Scripture. After all, Jesus Christ was killed…murdered…assassinated…crucified. And yet Scripture still tells us to “put your sword back into its place”, put it away, sheath your sword. John Dear says that “the disciples are unable to comprehend Jesus’ way of nonviolence.” Who are we kidding? We have the same difficulty. Violence, sadly, is a way of life. We try to preach non-violence; we try to shy away from violence; we try to put it on some other continent across the ocean and hope to God that it doesn’t cross to us. But are there times when it’s appropriate? Are there times when it is the only way? Are there times when there’s no other way?

But then, there’s the way of the cross: There are no swords; there are no guns; there are no bombs. So, what is it we’re doing? Dear points out that “we cut off an ear—and so much more. We destroy entire countries and incinerate hundreds of thousands of people in a flash. In fact, we are willing to risk the destruction of the entire planet, if necessary, to defend ourselves.” He is right. We are a violent people. We are so scared of losing what we have that we justify violence in any form. What does that say about us? Have we let the world so inflict our thoughts that we can see no other way out?

And then there is this Jesus who would die by the sword before he would draw it. How many of us would do that? As Dear says, “the unarmed Christ disarms us.” It disarms us because we do not know another way. It is high time we did. And yet, I am convinced that there is more to nonviolence than putting down the sword. Jesus never advocated a non-responsive reaction—just a nonviolent one. We are called to change the world. That means that sometimes it will be messy; sometimes we will upset people, sometimes we will make them angry, perhaps even cause them to draw their swords. Our response?...Sheath your sword, unleash your tongue, And speak the Word that God has done.

But all the disciples left him and fled. Jesus is led away to be crucified. Did they see no other way? They saw that it was the slaughter of their Savior or the slaughter of their lives as they knew them. And so they sacrificed their Savior. And we in our comfortable living rooms do it again each and every day if we do not speak out, if we do not stand up, if we do not affect change in the world. But change is not meant to be violent death; it is meant to be new life. And, so, “all who take the sword will perish by the sword” because the sword knows no other way. But we do. We know that our swords are laid at the foot of the cross and that we ourselves are changed and born anew at the hand of the new Creation that is Christ.

Discussion Questions:
1.) What is your reaction when there is a call for “nonviolence”? Do you see those who make that call as out of touch?
2.) To what violence do you hold in your life? What are some ways that you can change your reaction to life?
3.) What change do you see for the world?

So go forth toward the Cross, and be the non-violent change that is Christ!

Grace and Peace,

Shelli