Blessed be the Peacemakers, what does this mean? We must remember that Jesus was a Nazarene (A warrior sect of the Essenes) and being so he was also a Zealot, otherwise know as a warrior of God. If you have not a sword sell your cloak and buy one; stand up and be counted for your Lord, it does not mean to kill everyone and let God sort them out. Is this answer cryptic enough?Why is it that people cannot accept this one little fact, Templar Knight’s are NOT bringers of war, they are the bringers of PEACE…
In the Crusades, war was brought to us and the Templar’s were reformed to bring Peace. Now 700 years later war is brought to us once again and once again the Templar’s must respond. But not by killing everyone and letting God sort them out but by our own methods, do not invite us to kill, invite us to bring Peace, for we are the Peacemakers for Christianity…
Waes Hael Lionhart
ReplyDeleteNow that I have found you I will be joining you very shortly.
The Templars are here, do not worry my brothers.
The Master Wyvern
Jesus went about, like any politician today, with an armed guard. He spoke of peace, but was quite prepared to defend himself or wage war, if the occasion demanded. Here's the evidence, from an unpublished article of mine:
ReplyDeleteIt’s not often a lay person runs across a mistake in interpreting the Scriptures, especially when it involves the common belief Jesus Christ was a pacifist.
The traditional belief is based partly on the Sermon on the Mount where he said “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and partly on His comment on Gethsemane that “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
And yet, I’ve realized that’s wrong by comparing what Christ said to what He and His disciples actually did.
First it’s necessary to understand that a sword at the time was no pocket knife. It would be a Roman short sword called a gladius, about 27 inches long, 2 and a half inches wide, weighing three pounds, with a tapered point for thrusting and two sharp edges for cutting.
This fearsome weapon was extremely lethal in close combat and thus can be considered the handgun of the era. It was also quite expensive, certainly the most expensive manufactured object anyone was likely to own and not something that you would easily mislay or forget.
Now go through the New Testament to the Last Supper where Jesus is wrestling with his conscience over accepting, or resisting, his destiny on the cross.
At first he thinks of resisting and says, “he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one” (Luke 22:36). Remember the Supper is taking place in the room of a stranger none of them had been to before. When the disciples look around for some swords, they find two.
“And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. (Luke 22:38).
Now think about this. First Christ is not referring to all his disciples in the first quote; he is only referencing those who don’t have swords. It’s logical then that when “they” say “here are two swords,” they’re referring to two additional swords, not those being carried by the disciples who owned their own.
Even if you don’t accept that argument, it’s indisputable that the group had at least two swords handy while having dinner at a location they had never been to before.
The next reference to swords is when Jesus and his disciples are attacked by a crowd of men armed with staves and swords sent by the Elders and Chief Priests. As they do so, Peter draws his sword and strikes one of the attackers and cuts off his ear. Here’s how John puts it.
“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus” (John 18:10).
Jesus tells him to put away his sword and gives three reasons for him to do so.
In John 18:11 he says “Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” In other words, his fate requires him to be crucified.
The second reason he gives is that if he’d wanted to resist, he would have called in a legion of Angles. “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)
The third reason is the most interesting and the one that’s caused all the confusion. Here’s the quote from the previous verse: “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)
Most scholars think Jesus is referring to Peter when he says “all they that take the sword” but I think he actually means the mob that attacked them, the followers of the Chief Priest and Elders. The reference is to all “they”, not Peter. So what he means here is, put away your sword because these guys are going to get their just deserts. Peter was responding to an attack, not attacking. All “they who that take the sword” means those who start a fight, who take up a sword, will end up at the other end of one.
OK, let’s summarize.
Jesus spent his ministry with disciples some of whom were armed. At no time does he tell them to disarm themselves. Only on the final night, when he is about to be arrested to fulfill his destiny does he tell his closest advisor to put away his sword because, as we would say today, I have to do this.
Like a lot of politicians since, Jesus talked up pacifism, but did so with armed guards. At any time, he was well aware he could count on God sending him “more than 12 legions of angels,” should he need them.
It’s easy to preach peace when you’ve got armed guards and the Air Force on call, then or now.
Good reflection Frank.
ReplyDeleteLionheart, I thought you might be interested in this site.
ReplyDeletehttp://anewknighthood.blogspot.com/
Greetings Master Wyvern, thank you for dropping by to read my blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the true Christian Order of military Knights who stand shoulder to shoulder with a 'brother' is out there because those of us who are out here are small in number compared to the Moslem armies within our lands.
God bless you
Lionheart
Good to see you back Durandal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog Frank, you have given an excellent interpretation that definately sheds a different angle on the subject.
Our Christian leaders are teaching that we must turn the other cheek and that it is not the christian way to stand up for ourselves against the violent moslems who want to kill us. This is probably because of their weakness and cowardice that they want to force upon others. T
hat does not sit right in my soul and if i turn the other cheek i will be dead so what choice do i have?
God bless you
Lionheart
Lionheart,
ReplyDeleteNot all Christian teachers agree that turning the other cheek is the only way to deal with radical Muslims.
To read what many Christians have to say on this subject go to Christian Forums website and search under
"What did Jesus mean when he told his disciples to buy a sword?"
From pastors to parishioners you will get some surprising answers.
http://www.christianforums.com/
God Bless you,
Michael
Thank you Michael.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Lionheart