Matthew 26:52-56: a reflection

52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. 53Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” 55In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. 56But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

At Jesus' arrest, a disciple draws a sword to defend him; but Jesus stops him. Put your sword back in its place, he says. And he reveals how easily he could have escaped this, if he willed: Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? He had every means of resisting, every power to escape; and yet he chose not to use it, submitting instead to the Father's will and the Scriptures that must be fulfilled. He laid down his power in obedience.

Notice Jesus' voluntary restraint and submission. He was not helpless before his captors; he could have summoned legions of angels, escaped, resisted, called down the full force of heaven. But he chose not to. He submitted willingly to the Father's plan, to the suffering and the cross, though he had every means to avoid it. His arrest was not a defeat forced on him, but a submission chosen by him, laying down his power in obedience to the Father's will.

That voluntary submission of Jesus, laying down his power in obedience, is worth pondering deeply. He did not go to the cross because he was overpowered, but because he chose to submit to the Father's will, though he could have resisted. This is the depth of his obedience and his love: that having every power to escape, he laid it down, and submitted to suffering for our sake. And it is a pattern for us: that there is a place for laying down our own power and rights in submission to God's will, even when we could assert ourselves. When God's will calls you to submit, to lay down your rights or your power, when you could resist and assert yourself, remember Jesus, who could have called legions of angels but chose the Father's will. Submission to God's will, even when we could resist, is not weakness but the strength of obedience and love; follow Jesus, who laid down his power to do the Father's will for our sake.

Lord Jesus, at your arrest, when a disciple drew a sword, you stopped him, revealing that you could call on the Father for more than twelve legions of angels; you had every means to resist and escape, yet chose not to, submitting to the Father's will and the Scriptures that must be fulfilled. Help me ponder deeply your voluntary submission, laying down your power in obedience. You did not go to the cross because you were overpowered, but because you chose to submit to the Father's will, though you could have resisted. This is the depth of your obedience and your love: that having every power to escape, you laid it down, and submitted to suffering for my sake. And it is a pattern for me: that there is a place for laying down my own power and rights in submission to God's will, even when I could assert myself. When God's will calls me to submit, to lay down my rights or my power, when I could resist and assert myself, help me remember you, who could have called legions of angels but chose the Father's will. Submission to God's will, even when I could resist, is not weakness but the strength of obedience and love; help me follow you, Lord, who laid down your power to do the Father's will for my sake.