Buy a sword

A stunning statement about self defense is made by Yeshua (Jesus) on his last night with his disciples. It is often overlooked in the reading of the greater story.  In the context, Rabbi Yeshua is concluding a passover seder with his talmidim (disciples).  His mind turns to the day ahead, knowing he will soon be arrested, numbered among criminals, and crucified. So he gives his beloved disciples sound instructions:

"When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler’s bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied,  “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’  For what is written about me is being fulfilled.”   So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”  Then he told them, “It is enough.”  (Lu 22:35-38)

It is better that you have a sword than a cloak for keeping warm in your travels?!  Yes.  The ancient roads were dangerous.  Every step of the journey from town to town was a potential encounter with wild animals and thieves.  An unarmed individual looks like easy prey to a bandits.  Simply carrying a weapon reduces the risk of travel (a subject we'll talk more about in our upcoming Women's Defense Workshop).  But there is also the potential need to actually use it-- to draw the sword and save your life, or the life of others as you make a stand for justice.

In modern terms, Yeshua was telling his friends to get their carry permits and get a gun!  Self Defense is valuable, even for one who stands for peace.   He recalls a time when he sent them out locally without basic supply (Lu 9:3;10:3-4), and let's them know that they have a different and more difficult journey ahead.  Before, He sent them on a short term mission to increase their faith while they were still largely accepted as Jews among Jews.  Now, he was preparing them for the nations, and for a long term mission to the world, without Him at their side.

It's a simple instruction to be ready for the mission, and then he tells them why: he quotes Isaiah the prophet:

"So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.” (Isa 53:12)

Yeshua was about to be called a rebel, a transgressor, and executed as a criminal.  In the excitement of the instructions however, it seems the men were occupied with fulfilling the instruction, and missed the why in the moment.  For instead of plumbing deeper into the prophets words, they found swords.  It wasn't Yeshua's intention to start an armed resistance against Rome.  But zealots in Israel were looking for a conquering king, a Messiah Son of David, and the mention of swords might have sparked that hope in the men.

(Indeed, it could have been Judas' thinking that he was simply forcing Yeshua to take up the sword and do what the zealots hoped he would do.  Judas was a zealot- I don't think Judas' wanted Yeshua executed, he wanted Yeshua to make the stand and display His power.  His plan got his beloved rabbi killed, and the guilt was so great that he hung himself.)

Yeshua never intended a military expansion of the Kingdom of God in that day.  One of the greatest evils of the organized Christian church is the Crusades-  they became like the muslim raiders that angered the Pope, and used violence to advance their own wickedness and greed under the banner of religion.  They falsely misrepresented Jesus to the world and stained our history with blood.  This is not the Kingdom of God!  The first disciples might have made that mistake, too, but Yeshua handled it that very night:

"When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we use our swords?”  Then one of them struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear.  But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.  Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come out to get him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw?  Day after day when I was with you in the temple courts, you did not arrest me. But this is your hour, and that of the power of darkness!" (Lu 22:49-53)

The sword in the hands of a Jew were not for striking down their brothers, and not for overthrowing a leadership.  The sword in the hands of a believer were not for war, not for violence.

There's a difference between being a martyr, and being a victim of violence.  Martyr's are persecuted to the death for their faith and holding to the Truth.  It is usually persecution by the governments of men, and martyrs willingly lay down their lives as a sign to the judges and rulers of a nation.  Victim's are injured or killed typically because they looked like an easy target.

There's a difference between plotting revenge and self defense.  Revenge is man's internal need for justice perverted by sin into hatred.  Revenge seeks to take back, reclaim, or bring harm-- it's fellowship with violence like the one who seeks to 'steal, kill, and destroy' (Jn 10:10).

There's a difference between violence for a cause and self defense.  Sinful man has a bloodlust, and often seeks conquest by violent means, or advancing an ideal by eliminating or terrifying the opposition.

Self Defense is unique, in that it's purpose is to STOP THE VIOLENCE.  That is something any righteous person should be about.

Women's Self Defense Workshop

Until Messiah Comes... the world is a dangerous place where the wicked take advantage and every manner of evil is done.  Yeshua did not consider violence a means to increasing the Kingdom of God, but he did encourage his disciples to be prepared to defend the Temple of God that is oneself:

"Let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one." (Lk 22:36)

On April 14th, we'll be hosting our first self defense workshop specifically for equipping women to survive a violent attack.  If you are female, this workshop is for YOU, and YOU need to be there.  It's also for your friends.  If you're male, then this workshop is for every woman that you love and care about.  So husbands, take the kids on April 14th and send your brides.  Spread the word to family and friends!  

Feel free to share this post, copy the flyer, etc.

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April 14th, 11am-1pm

At Revolution Fitness

1960 Riverside Pkwy. Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Purim: We will not be Annihilated

Celebrating Purim, reading the megillah Esther, I am reminded of the immense value of martial training.  Haman managed to write a decree into the Medo-Persian empire giving liberty to the enemies of Israel, calling for the annihilation of the Jews, the antisemitic spirit (one with the antichrist spirit) was inciting murder against HaShem's People.

How did HaShem deliver them?  The most talked about deliverance is through HaShem's vessels of mercy, Mordecai and Hadassah (Esther).  But remember the end of the story... the biggest deliverance for those who lived it, was to endure the day itself.

On the 13th of Adar, all the enemies of the Jews came against them. It was not a siege of one army against another, but a siege of homes.  While some villages and cities were set apart as 'Jewish', the Jews were largely integrated into the cities of the empire, much like today.  Imagine the jewish quarter in town being attacked- no fortifications, no battle lines.  The enemy was advancing for the threshold of homes, to kill man, woman, and child.  To take the possessions of their victims for themselves.  Even those who had nothing of hatred for the Jews, might yet have joined the attack.  Yatzer hara inciting greed in dark hearts-- this was a day where anyone was permitted, legally, to kill a Jew and take his possessions.

And this is the providence of God on the 13th of Adar:

"The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword... and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hate them, but they laid no hands on the plunder." (Esther 9:5,16)

HaShem's people were given the right to defend themselves, and to kill those who would kill them.  And they stopped at that- at defense.  They did not allow hatred to send them on a rampage through the cities day after day.  They did not allow greed to entice there hearts for the wealth of the gentiles.

It would be my hope that you never experience an attack on your life.  But if you do, are you prepared-- mentally, emotionally, spiritually?  Have you wrestled with your own heart concerning what you would do?  Do you have peace with HaShem regarding your plan of action, because it's aligned with what He desires?

Furthermore, when do you 'take up the sword', and when do you turn the other cheek?  Both are principles of Torah.  Defense is permissible, but so is laying down your life.  As men, we will tend to draw lines about when to fight and when to lay down our lives.  However, what is right might not be as simple as we want it to be.  HaShem doesn't give us one set rule, because righteousness is deeper than rules and regulations.  You can't draw lines, and when you do, it becomes a mess of dead laws to obey.  Righteousness is a matter of the innermost, of the heart.  In the moment, in the particular moment, there is a path that more fully glorifies HaShem than the other.  That is the righteous path.  So in the moment, how will you know it?  Only by constant fellowship with Him will your discernment guide you in His ways.