Thursday 9 January, 2020

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

Be prepared. It’s about to get tough.

Here we see Jesus talking with his disciples at the end of his final Passover meal, warning them that the next days and weeks are going to become difficult as God’s plan for redemption enters a new stage. The time of Jesus ministry on earth is coming to an end and he is about to face crucifixion. He warns them also that he is about to be counted as a criminal to fulfil Isaiah 53:12.

When Jesus sent out the disciples previously (Luke 9:3) he told them to take nothing but this time Jesus warns that the disciples will face persecution and they should be prepared for it.

We too, as believers, need to be prepared and ready to stand firm. How can we do that?

Ephesians 6: 14-17 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Lord we praise your name because you are mighty and have conquered this world. Help us to be prepared to face opposition in our lives because of you, help us to stand firm with your armour firmly attached and with your name on our lips. Amen

Written by Jocelyn Petschack