No More of This

That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend . . . the love of Christ which passes knowledge. —Ephesians 3:17-19

Another version states... "the love of Christ which passes understanding." It does pass understanding; it's more than we will ever be able to love completely on our own. But Jesus came to try to teach us more about this love, so that we "may be able to comprehend." He came correcting us, just like our parents did when they said, "Enough is enough," or as Jesus puts it in Luke- "No more of this."


No More

47While 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, 48but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

52Then 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? 53Every 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

A familiar passage, but I read it differently this morning. The words that shouted out to me were "No more of this," perhaps because it was Dia del Nino (Kid's Day) on Sunday. In church, pastor was talking of the importance of correcting our children. Here Jesus was correcting us, His children. Because we do not yet understand the love of Christ, we might have reacted like Jesus' followers, in defend of Jesus, who they knew and loved.

But Jesus said, "No more of this." And he healed the man's ear. Jesus not only corrected the action, but he corrected the pain that had been caused. Now, many may not agree with my interpretation this morning, but to my two un-cut-off pacifist ears, this sounded very prophetic indeed. Before Jesus, there was a separation, those that deserved the sword and those that deserved healing, those that were meant for heaven (the chosen) and those that were lost (Gentiles). But now, the sword is meant for no one- "No more of this"- and the healing is meant for all, even the enemy who has come to take them away, as if Jesus were leading a rebellion.


Of This

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"

40 Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.-1 Kings 18:36-40

For example we may take this section about Elijah and His offering, when God proved Himself to be God by sending fire to burn the sacrifice. (Those who set up a sacrifice to Baal witnessed nothing.)

But the "this" that I see here is in verse 40, what was done with the prophets of Baal. They were seized and slaughtered. There is the sword- for the enemy, for those who were wrong, for those who were attacking the Lord with false beliefs. This is the "No more of this" to which I believe Jesus is referring. Now Jesus comes as the prince of peace, with hope and forgiveness for all.


No More of This... In Our Time

Some of you may be familiar with the new, I believe awful, legislation here in Arizona. It's basically legal racial profiling, where cops with 'due suspicion' ask anyone to prove their legal status in the US. Perhaps it's not using a sword, this type of 'power' which reinforces discrimination and stereotyping is a very real form of violence. The type of violence that we should have "no more" of.

As Jesus' people we need to spread the message of His incomprehensible love, His abounding peace... and 'heal' this law... change it and open the eyes of this world to understand that we are one- all welcomed, all loved, all healed. Jesus' message of peace and grace to all who believe in Him begs a world where there is "no more of this."