And Yet...

They came under the cover of night to capture the criminal. Sent on mission by the local leaders, these men were killing machines. A contingent of Roman soldiers trained to instill such fear into the people that they dare not rebel against Rome. They were joined by the high priests and mobs of people who were so riled up, they forgot that just a few days prior, they had bowed down, laying palm branches at the feet of the very man they came to capture.

They approached the garden where they knew he was, led by a man who sold out his friends for a short-lived financial gain. As they did, swords at the ready, clubs in hand and visual force that left no room for doubt. Jesus doesn't hide. He doesn't run. He steps in and says, Here I am, let's do this! With that one step, the entire contingent of enforcers, fell back and to the ground. It's hard to imagine the power they must have felt. So overcome by the very breath and voice of Jesus that it knocked them all back and to their knees. Jesus then tells them again, I'm the guy you want and instructs them to leave his friends alone. Take me, but not them. And they obey!

As Peter is given a little latitude to operate, he grabs his own sword and decides to step into the fight, by swinging at the head of the servant of the high priest and slashing off his ear. That could have been the match that set the entire night ablaze, but it wasn't.

"But Jesus said, 'No more of this.' And He touched the man's ear and healed him." (Luke 22: 51) 

Even in the midst of total chaos and his capture, Jesus remained in total control. No fear of man or what may happen to him, but of care for his friends, healing his enemy and teaching at every turn. And they let Him. Can you imagine the confusion that must have been going on? Here, the "criminal" we came to apprehend just knocked us all to the ground with His mere presence, then we watched Him literally repair human flesh with a touch of His hand? What do we do with that? But Jesus isn't about confusion. He knew the mission. He knew the price. He knew He needed to go first and lead His people. So He did. That's what leaders do.

When the crowds get up in arms, fear swirls, the competition comes after you and you feel like you want to grab your sword and start chopping heads, take a deep breath. Stay calm, know your mission and step in. Go first. Don't let emotion and tough circumstances cause you to go off mission. Have compassion for others, even if they may be on the opposite side of thinking from you. By doing so you may impact them in ways you may never realize and the whole team benefits.

I wonder whatever happened to Malchus, the servant whose ear was miraculously healed? How could he deny what he experienced? I feel like him sometimes. I put myself in situations by following the wrong voice that could lead to serious damage. And yet....

Know your mission. Protect your team. Have compassion. Go first. And when you find yourself on the wrong side of the mob or a sword, trust the one who has no fear of either to lead you out.