³⁵Jesus asked his disciples, “When I sent you out without a moneybag or a travelling bag or sandals, did you need anything?” “No!” they answered.    ³⁶Jesus told them, “But now, if you have a moneybag, take it with you. Also take a travelling bag, and if you don’t have a sword, sell some of your clothes and buy one. ³⁷Do this because the Scriptures say, `He was considered a

criminal.’ This was written about me, and it will soon come true.” ³⁸The        disciples said, “Lord, here are two swords!” “Enough of that!” Jesus replied.

This passage in Luke comes at the end of the Jesus’ teaching at the Last Supper. Jesus is reminding his disciples that times are changing. He reminds them of the halcyon days of their mission in Galilee.

It was a time when the popularity of Jesus from Nazareth was on the rise, and people welcomed the disciples with their message of peace and good news about the kingdom. This is something that the disciples report back to Jesus upon their return.

¹⁷When the seventy-two ^[g] followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!” ¹⁸Jesus told them:

   I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. ²⁰But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven! (Luke 10)

Now time has changed. Jesus knows that his arrest is imminent. Whilst, I am very comfortable with Jesus knowing because of who he was (the divine son of God); he had by his actions placed himself on a collision course with both the Jewish authorities and the might of Imperial Rome.

Jesus is warning the disciples about what is to come. Jesus is about to be arrested and convicted as a criminal. Indeed Luke is specific that the charges that would be laid before Pilate are political rather than religious.

¹Everyone in the council got up and led Jesus off to Pilate. ²They started accusing him and said, “We caught this man trying to get our people to riot and to stop paying taxes to the Emperor. He also claims that he is the Messiah, our king.” (Luke 23)

There is little doubt that the disciples would have been in the sights of the authorities. They would now have to fend for themselves rather than rely on the popularity of Jesus.

But is Jesus really telling them to purchase swords, or is he, like the master teacher he is, indulging in metaphor? From what we learn of the events of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, it is unlikely that Jesus wants the disciples to follow the practice of the zealots (the political revolutionaries or freedom fighters of the day)

⁴⁹When Jesus’ disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we attack them with a sword?” ⁵⁰One of the disciples even struck at the high priest’s servant with his sword and cut off the servant’s right ear.

    ⁵¹“Enough of that!” Jesus said. Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed it. (Luke 22)

Jesus also brings the conversation with the disciples to an abrupt end. This is in all likelihood yet another example of those who followed Jesus misunderstanding what he is saying.

The Messiah who is about to be crucified is reminding those who are on his side will be identified with him—and their Jesus was about to be identified as a criminal.

I wonder at times whether Jesus might have at times have been disappointed with the disciples?

I also wonder whether at times—at this stage of their messianic adventure, without the benefit of knowing how the story would unfold whether they were disappointed with Jesus?

Jesus also seems to be telling them that they are caught up in the battle between good and evil that is being played out on a cosmic, spiritual stage.

How are we to make sense of this passage today?

• That it is possible to misunderstand Jesus
• That it is on occasion acceptable to be disappointed with  Jesus. What we do with such disappointment is the key point.
• Those who choose to follow Jesus are not choosing a smooth or easy path
• Jesus chose a path of vulnerability and calls his disciples to do the same

The Methodist Covenant Prayer contains the following words. We might want to use them as we move forward to Maundy Thursday and beyond

‘I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.’