John 18:11 

New International Version (NIV)

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

For Meditation
It is easy to assume that an extended hand is always a helping hand. Our intentions may be laudable alright; however, the results could be something else. This recalls the story of the little boy who tried to help the struggling butterfly out of its cocoon. What he didn’t know was that his beautiful little friend’s struggle was part of its transforming process. It was the final part of the process that piped the special flight-enabling fluid from the head of the butterfly into its veins. Deprived of it, the butterfly became rather paralyzed. Some help is indeed debilitating, and that was Peter’s ignorance in the Garden of Gethsemane (Jn. 18:11).

Jesus did not need Simon Peter’s help with the sword. Nice idea, and a noble one. However, Peter was still ignorant of the divine purpose of Jesus’ imminent death. His earthly life that would culminate on the cross and His resurrection was the greatest redemption project of eternity – the sinner’s greatest need, the salvation of our soul. He came to the world for that purpose. In that, God’s love for the world would be revealed (3:16; Rm. 5:8). Mercy and grace would flow to embrace all who believe in Him. We would be reconciled to God, and eternity would welcome us in His Kingdom. Great project for humanity, and a welcome one. Any attempt to thwart this divine plan would be anathema. So, what was Peter doing with the sword against the arresting mob in the garden?

Peter manifested human concern for Jesus but failed to see the spiritual reality of His life. Jesus had rebuked him earlier for the same reason, and he should have learned from it (Mk. 8:33). The sword was no defense compared to the legions of angels that Jesus could have commanded to protect Himself.

“Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Jesus said.

In other words, it must be this way for the scriptures to be fulfilled about me.

The fact is, we can’t help God. He rather helps us. We can’t use physical means to defeat the forces of evil. The Spirit of God does that through us in Christ. What we need is the mind of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to respond to those wicked forces that stand against our journey to glory.

“Having been with me all this time, you still don’t know me?” Jesus asked Philip (Jn. 14:9).

So, know Christ. Know His ways. Get to know His agenda for the hour you live in. Be in step with the Spirit and let the Father be glorified. It’s the way of victory for the child of God – the only way to discern the right time to intervene or to hold back.