Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

— John 18:11

I sometimes carry a small pocket knife—not for protection, but for small tasks like slicing apples to eat. Peter, however, carried a sword for protection on the night that Jesus was arrested.

Anticipating a deadly trap, Peter concealed a sword in his cloak. And when some soldiers came along with several religious leaders to arrest Jesus, Peter drew out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. When Jesus saw Peter’s violent act, he rebuked him, healed the servant’s ear (Luke 22:51), and challenged Peter, saying, in effect, “Shall I not do what the Father has given me to do?”

Strangely, in an earlier passage in Luke, Jesus seems to advise his disciples to carry swords (Luke 22:36-38). Was Jesus speaking figuratively there about swords for spiritual warfare, as Paul does in Ephesians 6:10-18?

Though that passage in Luke is a bit unclear, we can be certain of one thing: Jesus never condones physical violence in order to spread the good news of his salvation. Submitting to God’s will, Jesus gave himself as a humble sacrifice to demonstrate his love for us all.

And he invites us to do the same for others.

Jesus, Prince of Peace, help us to submit our will to you, and with acts of humble obedience may we love and serve you in the world. Amen.