There is a lot of conflict, division, and violence in the world right now. It is easy for us to get swept in the finger pointing, us vs. them narratives. It is easy for us to view others as threats and want to do anything we can to secure and protect ourselves. But if we are going to be a part of the restoration story that God is writing in the world, we are invited to follow in the footsteps of the Slaughtered Lamb… Following the Lamb means that we will walk the road of victory, while simultaneously walking the road of suffering.

So, Jesus’ question in Matthew 26:55, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?” leads us to consider these questions for ourselves: Are we allowing culture to determine how we follow Jesus, or is following Jesus determining how we engage with culture?