Luke 22:47-51 - Submitting to God's will in difficulty

Scripture:

 

Luke 22:47-51

47  While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him.

48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" 

49 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"

50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered and said, " Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him.
NASU

 

 

Thoughts:

 

Jesus does not resist His captors. Knowing this is His Father's will, He submits to it and therefore to them.  He had already resigned Himself to doing His Father's will, despite His own feelings:

 

Luke 22:42
"...Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
NASU

 

 

The disciples however, are ready to fight! (verses 49-50)  This is a struggle every Christian faces:  the temptation to resist God's will when we don't like it. 

 

Sometimes our loving Father takes us through dark places.  Places we can't believe that a child of God walking in obedience to Him, would ever face.  Times of physical suffering, persecution, being misunderstood, and alienation to name a few.

 

And yet, it was the Father's will that His own Son should suffer all of these.  Looking back now, we understand why.  This was the path to the redemption of all who would believe.  In the same way, we must trust that the difficult paths we walk at times now, will in eternity be understood, as well.  The only question therefore is, will we submit to His will, even when it's difficult?

 

 

Prayer:

 

Lord, I know I tend to be a fighter.  I speak sometimes when I should be silent.  I get angry about my trials rather than committing them to You.

 

Forgive me.  I want to be like You, Jesus.  Teach me to walk in Your ways.  To trust You when everything I feel and think would lead me in the opposite way.  Let me be a person of faith and peace. 

 

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.