We all have a friend who seems to just do things without thinking. And if we don’t have a friend like this, we might be that person! This trait often gets worn away by life itself. After a few bad reactions from those impulsive actions, most people will begin to control most of those impulses. There are a few exceptions along the way, though. Mid-life crisis happens when impulse control goes out the window. Hormones throughout life play a role in impulsive behavior, angry outbursts, the ups and downs of life. Sometimes life can feel out of control.
One of the disciples lets his own fear get the best of him when the soldiers grab Jesus. All of a sudden he thinks he can take on the Roman soldiers! He is the first superhero that fizzled. He had the excitement without the power. So he swings the sword. I am sure many of us have swung a play sword at one point in our lives. Even if it was a stick made into a sword, we used it to win a battle. Most of us have had no formal sword training. None of the disciples was a trained swordsman, so the attempt to use the sword must have been humorous.
Except for the servant whose ear was cut off! Remember, our impulsive behavior has consequences for other people around us. I am sure this servant didn’t expect to have to use his Tide Stain Stick on his collar and shoulder when he put it in his pocket that evening. And yet he ended up feeling the brunt of this whole moment. He had his ear cut off.
So why was this servant of the high priest there? I imagine that he was there to bring a report to the high priest about exactly what happened. He was the eyes and ears of the high priest, the reporter on the spot. But it seems as if he was a bit impulsive himself. A reporter is not supposed to make the news. He is just supposed to report it. And yet, somehow he ends up between Jesus and the sword. Maybe he wanted to feel like a hero, the big man, the powerful man. He moved in place for the photo and chop. Don’t worry, Jesus puts his ear back on. Mark doesn’t seem to think this is important to his telling of what happened.
Jesus points out the obvious. There were so many opportunities to seize Him, many with much less effort. But Jesus knows this is His path. He was born for this moment. And He chooses this moment. He could have prevented His arrest that night. He could have caused blindness to fall on all those who were trying to capture Him. He could have brought a storm to knock them over. He could have struck them dead. But He doesn’t.
He doesn’t because He needs to die for all our sins, every last one of them. He dies to pay the price for every person’s sins, from Adam and Eve’s to the last person born before He returns. He purchases salvation for everyone, so that all can hear and all can choose life, eternal life.
The Scriptures are not the driving force, the abstract decree of the LORD pushing individual choice to the side. Jesus chose to yield to the soldier’s hands and grip. He allowed them to take control, even when they had no right to do so. Jesus had not violated any rule. He had not sinned in anything. And yet He gave up His freedom, just as the Scriptures had said He would.
I am not so sure I am as good at yielding to God’s will as Jesus was. I tend to second guess and resist at times. I want to be more yielding, more pliable, more obedient.
The Arnold Journey 