When darkness reigns, even for an hour, we need to be ready to show our loyalty and integrity as followers of Jesus. We never stop being his followers, and even when it’s our worst day, we can show his love and mercy to those around us – even toward our enemies.
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Luke 22:47-53 NIV
Darkness reigned that hour. When Jesus was arrested after the betrayal of one of his twelve disciples, darkness reigned. The conspiracy of the religious leaders reached its peak when they acted upon Judas’ intelligence to arrest the Teacher.
Jesus pointed out to them that every day he taught in the temple courts. Every day they had an opportunity to arrest him there, in front of everyone, but they did not. We know that the religious leaders were unsure of what the crowd would do if Jesus was arrested. His teaching was like none other. It was the new wine he spoke of back at the beginning of his ministry.
Even in this hour of darkness, however, Jesus did not stop being Jesus.
In my work, we sometimes speak of people having their worst day. When you are having your worst day, we show a bit more grace for you in your attitude and stress behaviours. It’s your worst day. Every day isn’t like this. In golf, they call this the Mulligan. Jesus didn’t need a Mulligan.
When his followers started to fight back, injuring the servant Malchus. Jesus responded, ‘“No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.’ This is Jesus. Even in the darkest hour, when darkness reigns, Jesus is still Jesus. He showed mercy toward Malchus and his healing power to restore him.
Let’s hope we don’t have a darkest hour this week. But if we do, remember that we can still be Jesus followers in that hour. We can still represent him the same as when the sun is shining. We will be following in the Teacher’s footsteps…
Amen.
Marc Kinna
marckinna 