Lenten Reader | Day 37

April 16th, 2025

No More Of This

While 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, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But Jesus answered, “No more 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 for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every 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

Have you ever had your trust, heart, or confidence betrayed by someone? Many of us could share that the results can be devastating. In this passage, Jesus finds Himself betrayed. In His humanity, I could see how He could feel all the things we feel. As He sees the group approaching, Judas emerges to give Him a kiss…a familiar sign of warm friendship. Jesus confronts Judas with truth. Aware that He was being betrayed, Jesus did not run, retaliate, or incite his disciples to violence. Peter reacts and cuts off the servant’s ear. At this, Jesus responds in a radical way by saying, “No more of this!” Two polar opposite responses. Why were they so different?

Peter reacted impulsively to protect Jesus with physical weapons and force. Although the disciples asked for direction, he immediately acted out of his flesh without waiting for Jesus’ directive. Jesus responded with mercy and grace towards the servant, fully submitted to His Father’s will which would ultimately lead to his death and resurrection.

Acting out of our flesh can escalate an already difficult situation. You and I have the great blessing and gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit that reminded Jesus of His mission here on earth when faced with hurt and betrayal. That same Holy Spirit in us nudges us to respond according to the ways of God and not our flesh.

I am reminded of my favorite verse in the Bible, Micah 6:8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We have a choice when faced with the hurt of betrayal or any other hurt. We can react out of our flesh, or we can hear Jesus saying, “No more of this!” and respond humbly to the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. It might require a little death to self, but the results can be life giving.

Jude White