WEDNESDAY - THE SWORD

FAMILY CONVERSATIONS

Scripture
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” Matthew 26:50-54 (NLT)

Devotio
Have you ever felt like you were doing the right thing, only to find out you were making the situation worse? Peter had several of these moments as he spent time with Jesus.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter reacted with a flash of anger and fear. He pulled out a sword and actually cut off the ear of one of the high priest's servants! Peter was trying to rebel against what was happening. He thought he was defending Jesus, but Jesus immediately stopped him and even healed the servant's ear.
Peter was acting like he knew better than God. Jesus had told his disciples many times that he must be arrested and suffer—it was all part of God’s rescue plan (Matthew 16:21). Peter's actions were a rebellion against God’s perfect plan. He was fighting the wrong battle, with the wrong weapon, and for the wrong purpose. Peter's heart was in a good place—he loved Jesus—but his actions were filled with pride, as if Jesus needed his protection.
Jesus didn't need Peter's sword, and He doesn't need our swords either. When we try to "fight" for God or for ourselves using anger, harsh words, or our own strength, we are just like Peter. We end up hurting people and getting in the way of God's work. Peter learned later that the real battle is spiritual, and the true weapon is the Gospel. He went from using a physical sword to wound people, to using the spiritual "sword of the Spirit" to reach their hearts (Acts 2:14-41).

Conversation
Peter acted out of a rebellious impulse, thinking he knew the best way. Can you share an example of a time you acted quickly without thinking and later realized you were "fighting the wrong enemy" or using the "wrong weapon" (like getting angry instead of talking calmly)?
Jesus didn't need Peter to defend him. What does this teach us about the difference between doing things forGod and trusting God to work through his own power?
Peter later put down his physical sword and used the spiritual sword (God’s Word) to lead people to Jesus. What are some of the “spiritual weapons” (like prayer, kindness, or sharing the Bible) that our family can use in our lives instead of our own strength?
In what area of our lives is our family most tempted to rebel against God’s will right now?

Prayer
Together as a family, thank Jesus for his patient instruction to Peter, and to us, to lay down our rebellion. Ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to help us fight our battles with spiritual weapons, not with our own pride or anger, and to always submit to his perfect will.