Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? John 18: 11 KJV
Judas has betrayed Christ by leading a group of soldiers to Him. By pulling out his sword and striking Malchus, Peter acted boldly but also improperly in the flesh. It is easy for us to look back on this scene and judge Peter for his foolish action but the truth is we too are often just as foolish. We also strike out hastily and get our piece of flesh without regard to the consequences. That Peter was wrong is obvious from the Lord’s response. He was taking matters into his own hand and out of the hand of God. The time for Peter to have acted was earlier when Jesus asked him to pray. Because Peter failed to pray he was not prepared spiritually and therefore acted in the flesh thinking it was the right thing to do.
Lord, I am more like Peter than I like to admit. Too often I act first and think afterward. I am glad You are in control to put things back together just as You did in this situation. Help me pray first so I won’t have to pray later in repentance.
