Jesus & Injustice (Part III)

In the last two posts, we’ve looked at the question of how Christ followers should respond to injustice, and we’ve been looking for that answer in the life of Jesus. First we looked at Jesus’ teachings on how we should respond (Matthew 5:40-48) and then we looked at how Jesus responded when He was confronted with injustice in someone else’s life (John 8:1-11). Today we are going to look at how Jesus—and His disciples—responded to injustice in His own life.

It could easily be argued that everything that happened to Jesus was an injustice—He is, after all, the Son of God, and through Him all things were made and yet He came to Earth born to a young, poor couple in a barn, He was rejected by the people He came to save, His claims of divinity were questioned and rejected, He was unjustly arrested, given an unfair trial, and sentenced to death on a cross. In doing so, Jesus was fulfilling His purpose, a purpose that was prophesied way back in Genesis 3; so while we can still learn from Jesus’ reaction to the injustice in His life, we might learn more from the actions of the disciples and Jesus’ response to them.

“And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.” (Matthew 26:47)

The first sign that we have that this is being done in an unfair or unjust way is that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own followers. The leading priests had nothing on Jesus by which they could arrest Him in public during the day so they needed someone close to Jesus who would betray Him in the dead of night. They didn’t send a few people to arrest this one man; instead, they sent a crowd armed with swords and clubs. Jesus even pointed out that there was no need for such a crowd.

“Then Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.’ At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:55-56)

Jesus didn’t fight back. He pointed out that everything that was happening was happening for a reason. He didn’t complain about the unjust situation or the violence without cause that He had to face. Jesus knew that even in the worst of times, God is in charge and He is in control. We need to remember that, too; no matter what is happening to us, no matter how bad it seems, God is in control. Some of you may notice that we skipped over how the disciples reacted to this unjust, late-night betrayal and arrest. Let’s go back and read what happened before Jesus spoke to the crowd.

“Jesus said, ‘My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.’ But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.” (Matthew 26:50-51)

One of Jesus’ followers lashed out with violence. This angry mob had come to arrest Jesus and one of the disciples would not stand by and watch it happen. He reacted emotionally, drew a sword, and cut off the ear of one of the mob members. How did Jesus respond? Did He encourage more violence? Did He follow in His disciples footsteps and take up arms against His captors? Was this the time that Jesus would lead the revolution so many thought He would?

“‘Put away your sword,’ Jesus told him. ‘Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?’” (Matthew 26:52-54)

No. Jesus reprimanded the disciple who drew the sword, and He condemned the violence. Jesus pointed out that those who live violent lives will die by violence. He did not speak out against His captors; instead, He used the moment to teach His disciples. We are Christ’s representatives here on Earth; it’s a responsibility we carry with us all the time, and if we want to claim to be a follower of Jesus then we better represent Him accurately. Jesus did not condone the violence. He seized the moment to teach a final lesson before His death and resurrection. “Put away your sword.” No violence. Jesus taught no violence in the face of the greatest injustice of all; certainly we should not react with violence to any injustice we encounter.

“‘You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.’” (Matthew 5:38-39)

The disciple, in a moment of high emotion, forgot this teaching from his Lord. Let’s not make the same mistake when we are caught up in our emotions as we react to situations.

Jesus faced an unfair trial, one in which the leading priests and high council tried to find witnesses who would give a false testimony against Jesus (Matthew 26:59-60 & Mark 14:5), He was taken to Pilate who could find no fault in Him (Luke 23:4, 16, 23), and then He was given a criminal’s death sentence on a cross. Again, Jesus was fulfilling His purpose, but He did not rise up against His accusers even though the evidence was overwhelming that everything, from the arrest to the crucifixion, was unjust.

Only once did a follower of Jesus lash out with violence in the face of this injustice, and he learned yet another lesson from his Lord. “Put away your sword. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Jesus condemned violence as a response to injustice, even the greatest injustice of all. He defended the defenseless with peace and gentleness, and He taught obedience to the law, even to the point where we go the extra mile. Jesus not only taught us how to respond to injustice, He demonstrated how to respond to it. As Christ followers we need not take up swords in the face of injustice—we need to obey the laws given to us, we need to go the extra mile, we need to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, and we need to remember that God is always in control.

“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” (Matthew 22:37-40)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed