Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, show us Your hands that were bound that we might be set free. Amen.
Text: Matthew 26:50–56
And Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Devotion
He is ready and willing to go to His death for our sins. His love is the rope that binds Him, otherwise no man would ever have been able to bind His hands. But since He suffers for us, we can also say that our sins, our willful misdeeds, our disobedience, our riotous living, and all the wild and false freedom that fills the world, bound these holy hands which could only bless, heal, and save. Here we all share the blame. Let us confess it, so that the bonds shall make us free.
Peter wanted to defend Jesus with his sword. But what is that except a new attempt by the devil to take out of the Savior’s hand the cup which the Father gave Him to drink? Secular power for the church is Satan’s deceit. Not steel, but the Word is the Church’s sword. Not in ruling, but in suffering is its conquering power; not the blood of enemies, but the blood of the martyrs is its seed. The Lord did not lack outward power over against His enemies and yours if He wanted to have it. Instead of twelve like Peter He could have had twelve legions of angels for His defense, but how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled? Could He then have suffered the punishment for our sin and taken away our guilt? Now the Lord had to suffer, suffer, not rule – suffer and thus rule.
In the same way we too by suffering shall fulfill God’s plan and the Word of the Scripture and overcome our enemies. When the power of darkness is allowed to rage against us, we shall be victorious by Him who healed the ear of Malchus, repaying good for evil and showing them that God in us is stronger than the devil in them. And when they speak evil, we shall patiently keep silent or speak words of correction to them in loving desire to save them, just as the Lord did by saying: “Why did you not try to seize Me when I was with you daily?” He did it for us, in our place. Learn it well, and He shall surely also accomplish it in you. Where are you, you believers, who everywhere should show that in you live the spirit and power of this patient Savior, who out of love suffers willingly, who is merciful and does good to all His enemies even unto death? – He is not powerless, not captured by the devil. But as the One who is completely victorious over the devil, the Lord delivers His hands and His body to these servants of the devil, and so He allows Himself to be led away.
Closing Prayer
My soul worships You, Lord Jesus! Your love has loosed my bonds and again bound me to You. Freely and obediently I will follow You in the footsteps of Your suffering, for You are my joy and strength. Lord, You know Your servant; be gracious to me and help me. Amen.
Hymn
O my Jesus, I remember
That I once was darkness’ child
And was counted as its member,
With my God unreconciled,
Bound for death eternally
Till Thou came down willingly
For to spare my soul, surrounded,
And in death’s deep darkness shrouded.
Art Thou now a captive taken?
I had once a captive been.
But Thy bonds instead have broken
All the chains that bound me then.
I have now been freed by Thee;
Bind me fast, alone to Thee;
Save me by Thy willing capture;
Fill my soul with joy and rapture.
Kingo: Mørket skjuler Jorderige L 319:7-8 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Freu dich sehr (ELH 256); alternate hymn: Savior, when in dust to Thee ELH 296