Table of Contents
DISCRETION OR VALOUR?
SECOND MISCALCULATION
Jesus had doubly miscalculated:-
1. Regarding the enthusiasm demonstrated by the disciples in that upper-room. Believing that he would only have to contend with the Jews in a clandestine arrest.
2. The Jews were more wily then he had thought. They brought with them Roman soldiers.
The Christian scholars are no less wily in their translations and manipulations of the Bible. They have changed the words “Roman soldiers” to simply “soldiers” and from the word soldiers to now “band of men” and “the guard”.
“Judas then, having received a BAND OF MEN1 and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh there with lanterns and torches and weapons”
(HOLY BIBLE) John 18:3
1. “Band of men”: here and in verse 12 following, the words in the so-called original manuscripts are speira and chiliarchos respectively. Both Roman military terms, meaning “cohort” and “tribune”. “That John is the first Evangelist to mention Roman soldiers among the party which went out to arrest our Lord . . .” See Knox’s — “A New Testament Commentary”, page 260.
CAUGHT NAPPING
The disciples were caught as the Englishman would say with their “pants down”.1 Literally they were caught napping. The enemy trod over them roughshod. Only one of the soldiers of Christ had the presence of mind to ask:
“. . . Master, shall we smite them with the sword?”
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 22:49
But before Jesus could attempt a reply, the impetuous Peter struck out with his sword and cut off the right ear of one of the enemy. Jesus had not anticipated Roman soldiers. Realising that the tables were turned against his misconceived strategy, he advises his disciples:
“. . . Put up again thy sword into its place; for all they that TAKE THE SWORD shall PERISH WITH THE SWORD.” (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 26:52
1. “Pants down”: a figure of speech, meaning caught in an unguarded moment; unawares.
CHANGE OF STRATEGY
Did Jesus not know the truth of this statement when he ordered his disciples to sell their garments and buy SWORDS? He surely did! Then why the contradiction now? . There is really no contradiction! The situation changes, so the strategy must also change. He had sense enough to realise that against trained and well-equipped Roman soldiers it would be suicidal for his sleepy warriors to offer even a pretence of resistance.
PRINCE OF PEACE???
Why do not the Christian controversialists give their “Lord and Master” credit for this simple common-sense? Because they have been programmed for a period of two thousand years that Jesus, the “lamb”, the “prince of peace”, couldn’t harm a fly. They overlook the other side of his nature which demanded blood and fire! They forget his instructions to his soldiers regarding those of his enemies who would not like him to rule over them, to bring them forth:
. . . and SLAY1 them before me.”
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 19:27
“Think NOT that I am come to send PEACE on earth; I. came NOT to send PEACE, but a SWORD.”
(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10:34
“I am come to send FIRE on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Suppose ye that I am come to give PEACE on earth? I tell you, NAY; but rather DIVISION.”
(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 12:49 & 51
In view of these solemn pronouncements and his repeated vitriolic outbursts against the learned men of his time, if the sword of Peter had prevailed, we would have witnessed a massacre without compunction, equal to that of his ancestor Joshua (meaning Jehova — Saviour)2 who utterly destroyed all that was in Jericho:
“both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the SWORD.”
(HOLY BIBLE) Joshua 6:21
And the Gospel writers would not have been slow in putting words into the mouth of Jesus, word for word, as fulfilment of prophecies VATICINIUM EX EVENTU (prophecies after the event) as recorded3 of his “father” (?) David.
1. Means to KILL. Breaking the commandment — “Thou shalt not kill. — (Exodus 20:13)
2. Joshua: a type of Christ, says C.I. Scofield, D.D. in his Bible commentary.
3. His “father’s” record: ‘The conquered Ammonities he treated with even greater ferocity, tearing and hewing some of them in pieces with harrows, axes, and saws; and roasting others in brick-kilns”. Maitlands comment on 2 Samuels Chs. 8 to 12 in “Jewish Literature and Modern Education” – (page 21).
FAILURE, AND TRIAL
The march on Jerusalem had fizzled out. The sabre-rattling in the Garden had proved abortive. As there is a reward for success, likewise there is a price for failure. The odds are heavy! Hence the trial, the tribulation, the turmoil and the sweat and blood.
With heavy hands, the Roman soldiers dragged Jesus (pbuh) from Gethsemane to Annas, and from Annas to Caiphas the High Priest, and on to the Sanhedrin as directed by the Jews, for trial and execution.
Whilst Jesus was being manhandled and buffeted towards his doom, where were his heroes who were beating their breasts with the war-cry: “Master, we are prepared to die for you. Master, we are prepared to go to prison for you!” ? St. Mark, the first of the Gospel writers, un-ashamedly and without any apology reveals:
“AND THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM, AND FLED.”
(HOLY BIBLE) Mark 14:50
The authors of the 27 books of the New Testament could not find a similar dastardly desertion in the Jewish Bible1 to fulfil prophecy. If there was, they would have been quick to exploit it.
1. The Old Testament
GLOATING OVER DEFEAT
In a debate between Islam and Christianity, on SABC T.V. one of the participants, claiming to be “reborn”, gloated over the word DESERTION. He articulated the word with such relish —D-E-S-E-R-T-I-O-N — which must have left a taste of triumph in the mouth of the cultists, instead of the bitterness of shame and defeat. The Bible-thumpers have developed a new sickness of glamorising despicability and ignominy. Everyone, male or female, of these cultists, will not fail to relate their peccadillos, their adulteries and bestialities, their drinkings and druggings. It appears that one must have been part of the dregs of humanity to become a candidate for this “born again” cult.
