Matthew 26:47-56
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Reflection
Peter makes a desperate effort to protect Jesus (Matt. 26:51; see also John 18:10), but Jesus knows that the war he came to wage will not be won with the power of physical weapons and violence (Matt. 26:52). His victory over sin, Satan, and death would be secured only by the sacrifice of his life upon the cross. The Old Testament had foretold that God’s chosen Servant-King would have to suffer in order to accomplish his task (v. 54; see Isaiah 53). Jesus came to die, and he embraced that assignment with genuine willingness (Matt. 26:39, 42; Heb. 12:2).
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Reflection
Though Paul has many rights (“I am free from all”), he lives as though he has none (“a servant to all”; 1 Cor. 9:19). For the sake of the gospel (v. 23), he has become “all things to all people” (v. 22) — that is, he has adopted many customs and cultural practices that are not his own preferences, so that he might honor Christ and bless others by sharing the gospel with as many different kinds of people as possible. Even those of us who are not apostles are called to show enthusiasm for “building up” our neighbors (8:1; 10:23) so that they might possibly be saved (9:22).
Psalm 96:2
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
Just as Jesus waged war by laying his life down for others (Matt. 26:52–54), Paul laid down his personal rights and preferences in the hope that others might be saved (1 Cor. 9:19–23). Pray for the willingness and wisdom to know how to show this same Christlike love to your family, friends, neighbors, and enemies.