Today’s chapter is Luke 22

Tom writes:

My grandfather used to go on and on about these two swords (v 38) saying that they proved Jesus wanted to be a violent revolutionary. What a load of tosh (may my grandfather rest in peace). We really can’t take a single verse and give it more weight than all the other verses of the New Testament. Even if we just read on a few more verses we see Jesus standing Peter down when he actually uses the sword. In context, the sword comment was one more way that Jesus was warning his followers to be ready and alert. Tribulation was coming. A better bone to gnaw on in this passage is how Jesus treats Peter. How Jesus looks-straight-at-Peter. Gulp. Poor old Peter must have soiled his toga when he realised the depth of his shamefacedness. From that point on he could never have doubted the basis of any future engagement with Jesus - epic portions of grace.

And yet the funny thing is that we don’t even get told what Jesus’ look was. I’m not entirely sure why that is, but perhaps it is because it is less important than the fact that Jesus looked at all. Jesus had more than enough to be getting along with and yet his mind was on his followers. Jesus already knew that Peter would betray him and yet he didn’t take that knowledge and whack Peter with it. Rather, he used it to focus his attention on Peter, turning his aspect towards him in the moment of his greatest betrayal. Isn’t that wonderful? Jesus chooses to give himself particularly to those who are goofing up and bankrupting themselves. This is the way of the Kingdom that he has bestowed on us. Jesus doesn’t blandly say that everything is OK but he does show he is there, watching, aware of our plight and dropping hints of the redemption that he is wanting to bring. This is the covenant that he signed with his blood. If you have bankrupted yourself you need to know that he watched you do it. You need to know that he is watching you now. You need to know that the same epic proportions of grace that were served up to Peter are available for you too. Look at Jesus looking at you. Get on your face and receive the sweet forgiveness his broken body offers to you. Receive his kingdom, and then go be a disciple who gives the same service to others that Jesus has given to you.

Question for reflection

Who do you know who has really messed up? How could you minister Jesus’ grace to them?

More resources are for you at www.anewtestamentjourney.net

Paperback and eBook versions of the devotional available at https://amzn.eu/d/0tDbKny

Luke 22 - Tuesday 30th January