June 7: Kissed

“Do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53

Jesus, as He spoke to Peter who had just amputated the ear of Malchus (see John 18:10), was also speaking for the benefit of everyone within earshot. Among those were prominent religious leaders—just as much the objects of His love as anyone. They had come to see who Judas would kiss (Matthew 26:48). They cherished and propagated erroneous teachings, including the popular myth that the Messiah would have no natural family connections (see Matthew 13:55, Luke 4:22, John 6:42). He would just appear onto the scene and overthrow the Roman oppression. This view called for ignoring prophecies of His humble birth, the timing of His earthly ministry, and His ignominious, sacrificial death. The view was bolstered by the misapplication of prophecies about His glorious second coming to a mundane military overthrow of the Roman government.

The asking of questions is a wonderful teaching method of Jesus. The opening question makes a direct connection between the Jesus who grew up in Nazareth as a member of the carpenter Joseph’s family and the Son of God sent by the heavenly Father. The phrase more than twelve legions of angels is a powerful medley of concepts: twelve being the number associated with leadership in the Jewish Biblical culture, legions being a vivid reference to the unmatched (at the time) Roman military power, and angels: those magnificent “larger than life” heavenly creatures that everyone had at least heard about.

Prominent among Satan’s tactics is the myth of “redemptive violence” which today is perpetuated in children’s cartoons, action figures, etc. Sheer overpowering violence is promoted as the way to make things right. Myths about the Messiah have, to this day, prevented the vast majority of Abraham’s descendants from accepting the death of Jesus on the cross as full payment for breaking the law of God. The very opposite of redemptive violence is overpowering love. It is a lesson that we are all very slow to incorporate into our own souls. Why not pray right now that Jesus will mend any damage you have caused by wielding a weapon in defense of Jesus. He actually doesn’t need our protection. It is we who need His protection as we lovingly represent truth in a fallen world. The lifelong study of Him who is the Son of God and the Son of Man can never be exhausted.

Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22:48-51