"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Matthew 26:52-54
Jesus' relationship to and view of weapons and violence is interesting. Generally he calls for a spiritual response versus a natural response as in this case. One time he did tell them to bring a sword but here clearly not. His comment that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword is quite clear. He says that he instead could call a legion of angels. This is the spiritual response. I guess this is my general response to self defense.
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:74-75 NIV
This situation with Peter highlights something that is true for all of us: we often think that we are more brave and more resolute than we actually are. The good news is that Jesus knows this and still lives is and gives us grace and forgiveness!
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