Disarming Peter Pt III: Sheathing the Sword

In disarming Peter, Christ disarmed all Christians. Tertullion 2nd Century AD.

The disciple Peter was a hothead. He was boisterous, arrogant, proud, and stubborn. He was the unspoken leader of the twelve disciples. He was the first to jump into a situation, first to defend Jesus, and subsequently, he would often times, be the first to fail. Peter was the prototypical fundamental evangelical Christian. Like all Christians, Peter had his trials, and his failures. It is through his life, that we can learn how to get up when we fall.
Peter was always ready to protect and defend Jesus. He didn't want Jesus to go into Jerusalem, for he know that Jesus was a wanted man, and that entering Jerusalem meant certain death. Then, on a certain day in the Garden of Gethsemane, it happened. Peter's biggest fear was being realized, they came after Jesus to take him away. Peter had to leap into action, to help Jesus, to save Jesus. He drew his sword ready for a rumble. Then Jesus with a harsh rebuke, disarmed Peter for the third time, “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'” (John 18:10,11 NIV)
How many times do Christians prematurely draw their swords ready to defend Christ, yet fail in the process? Many times, Christians will jump to the wrong conclusion, start quoting the Scriptures, trying to make everything right, but end up making a bigger mess of it. Though our hearts are in the right place, the timing is not what God wants. We must be patient and allow God to work in us, and then work through us. When Peter drew his sword the priest's servant's heart became full of fear and possibly hatred. When Christians attack non believers, how many do it in a ruthless way, as to put hatred in the heart of the person. When Christians start quoting the Scriptures, and telling non believers they will burn in Hell, you're not winning them to the Lord, you're pushing them away. Love them as Christ loved them.
One example of Christ's love for the sinner is the adulterous woman. Jesus knew she was a sinner, the whole world basically knew she was a sinner. When the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought her to Jesus to trap him, Jesus could have consented to their actions and condemned the woman. He could have gone with the crowd and said, “You're a sinner, you must die.” Yet, he didn't. He had compassion upon her and did not condemn her. He did warn her to change her life, but he did not condemn her. Not once throughout the Holy Scriptures did Jesus emphatically tell someone they are going to Hell. He warned them by telling them they are in danger of going there, but he never condemned someone to an eternal punishment. Since Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman, why should we condemn sinners for their actions.
There is a difference between condemning and warning. Condemning is emphatic and permanent. Warning is attempting to turn the person away from their sin. People are more open to change, when warnings are done in love and respect. They are not open to change with an emphatic and permanent condemnation. When coming to Jesus defense, we must understand that Jesus is bigger than us. He doesn't need us to defend him, but he does want us to show our love for him by promoting him and his actions. We must remove our own anger, malice, and condemning attitude and look at people the way Jesus looked at people. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31,32 NIV) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NIV)
When Jesus took away Peter's sword, he was removing the one thing that would harm Peter's witness. From this point on, Peter's sword was God's Word. Peter gave the sermon at Pentecost, that led to thousands coming to salvation. Peter witnessed before the Sanhedrin, even defying their order not to mention Jesus name. Peter witnessed to Cornelius. All of these things Peter did, knowing that death was not far behind, and knowing he had a sword, just not the one he used in the garden.