Restoring of Love

Most parents have used the phrase at least once that fighting never solves anything. The saying is true, but there are those times when it seems as though a fight just has to break out. Emotions run at an all-time high during an argument, and the next thing you know, someone has lost their temper, they decide to throw the first punch, and then it turns ugly. In the end, the fight never solved anything, and the people are left with hurt feelings and oftentimes bruises. In the end, the phrase is accurate that fighting does not solve anything; it just makes things worse. 

In Luke 22: 47-51, we see how Jesus was also against fighting and violence. These passages say that Jesus was talking to His disciples when Judas and a crowd approached him. Judas came forward to kiss Jesus, which would signal to the officials who he was to arrest Him. When those who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" without an answer even being given, one of them took a sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the high priest and Jesus then said "Stop! No more of this" and He then touched the man's ear and healed him.

This was when again Judas was betraying Jesus with a kiss that would start the beginning of the end of His life. Jesus had been hunted down by a crowd of people in the night, and then this happens. His disciples obviously started to panic and reacted wrongly, and yet look what Jesus did. Jesus, out of His great love for mankind and in the middle of His capture, took the time to heal the man who was with the crowd of people who came to arrest Him.

Imagine, if you will, for a moment, what a loud scream of pain that had to have come from this man. Having your ear cut off by a sword is a pain I do not believe many people can say they know. Also, imagine the reaction from the others that were standing by. I am sure chaos was again about to break out, which is why Jesus shouted to stop. Then imagine what the scene had to have been like when Jesus touched this man's ear and healed him. We do not read about his reaction or what he said, but I imagine something had to have been said. Imagine also what His disciples had to have been thinking and even speaking.

You see, Jesus was about to begin this horrible journey of going to the cross to be crucified for all mankind's sins. To be the atoning sacrifice because of His love for all, this healing is also evidence of His love. Jesus' love was not only shown by His dying on that cross but through everything, He did while He was alive, including this situation. Here this man was with the enemy, so to speak, and Jesus restored to him what someone else had taken away. Jesus knew that fighting and violence was not the way, and it was not going to solve anything, and out of His love, He brought restoration to this man. What an example in the very heated moment of His life of His great love and compassion for all men.

It causes one to really examine their own lives. Examining that if violence and fighting do not solve anything, why do we allow ourselves to get caught up in so much of it? Not only fighting with our hands but also with our words and actions. Why are we so unwilling at times to be a vessel of restoration instead of trying to prove we are right? Why is doing the right so difficult for us? Here was Jesus on His way to a horrible and humiliating crucifixion, and the very people that were going to help put Him there were the very ones that He did a miracle for. What great love He truly has for each of us regardless of what we have done- especially to Him. Why, though, is that the same kind of love so hard for us to demonstrate?

Each of us daily needs to accept Christ and His love and then give it away. To be a living example of love, restoration, and healing that comes from Him through us. To even our enemies still be that beacon of light- that light that represents Jesus Christ. So, the question is: Are you and I willing to be that light? Are you and I willing to our enemies shine and shine for the glory of Jesus Christ? Are you and I willing to give away the love that was so freely and openly poured out for us? Oh, if you and I are, then that is when we will see the restoration and healing process begin and start with others and within.

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns