All quotes from My
Enemy is My Guest: Jesus and Violence in Luke, J.M. Ford:
Luke places the dispute about who is the greatest at the last supper: Luke 22.24-30.
This is unlike the other Gospels who place it much earlier [Mark 10.35-45; Mat 20.20-28 as a
specific petition from James & John, the sons of “thunder”, Zebedee].
Communion service is followed by Jesus’ warning to Simon Peter that
“Satan has demanded permission to sift
[test]” all of the disciples “like
wheat”. How? Why?
One of the ways is via the buying of swords & eventual
confrontation-arrest of Jesus in the garden. The teaching that follows will be
the last before his resurrection:
·
The promise of the New Covenant to share the
coming Messianic/KOG meal with Jesus again
depends on one’s preparation to start living “a life of humility and service, not of political and military leadership and
rivalry ...”
·
Apart from the fact that the disciples expected a violent overthrow of the Gentiles by their promised Jewish Messiah,
some had revolutionary/political
connections [“sons of thunder” = the Zebedees; Judas Iscariot = of the sicarii, “dagger-men”, assassins; Simon
the Zealot].
“[This means that]
members of violent resistance movements are to be numbered with transgressors…”
Thus, fulfilling Isa 53.13 & Luke 22.22 [as planned/determined; cp. Matt
26.24; Mar 14.21 “just as it is written”].
A teaching that is starkly brought to light in Jesus’ “words that
strongly suggest that violent hostility is supernaturally inspired/evil”:
Luke
22.53: “This is your hour and the power of darkness”.
“Jesus’
teaching at the last supper forms a climax to all his teachings that
accompanied meals during his earthly life. It means that sword bearers are
classified with transgressors…The account would also imply that bearing arms is
demonic…This is a sobering thought. It is a readjustment
of values.”
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