Real restraint is not weakness, for it arises out of genuine strength.

My kingdom is from another place. John 18:36

Most of us hope for good government. We vote, we serve, and we speak out for causes we believe are fair and just. But political solutions remain powerless to change the condition of our hearts.

Many of Jesus’s followers anticipated a Messiah who would bring a vigorous political response to Rome and its heavy-handed oppression. Peter was no exception. When Roman soldiers came to arrest Christ, Peter drew his sword and took a swing at the head of the high priest’s servant, lopping off his ear in the process.

Jesus halted Peter’s one-man war, saying, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11). Hours later, Jesus would tell Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders” (v. 36).

The Lord’s restraint in that moment, as His life hung in the balance, astonishes us when we ponder the scope of His mission. On a future day, He will lead the armies of heaven into battle. John wrote, “With justice he judges and wages war” (Rev. 19:11).

But as He endured the ordeal of His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus kept His Father’s will in view. By embracing death on the cross, He set in motion a chain of events that truly transforms hearts. And in the process, our Strong Conqueror defeated death itself.

Father, how prone I am to reacting quickly rather than wisely. Show me Your will for my life so that I will purposefully choose the path You have for me.

不反抗绝非懦弱，因这需要极大的自制力。

耶稣回答说：“我的国不属这世界。”-约翰福音18章36节

大多数的人都希望有好的政府，所以我们投票、从军，并勇敢地为了维持社会的公平与正义挺身而出。但是，政策或许能解决问题，却无法改变人心。

在罗马政府的高压统治下，耶稣的跟随者大都期待一位弥赛亚能发挥政治力量，彼得也不例外。因此，当罗马士兵要逮捕耶稣时，彼得想阻止，就拔刀削掉大祭司一名仆人的右耳。

然而，耶稣阻止彼得的反抗，对他说：“收刀入鞘吧！我父所给我的那杯，我岂可不喝呢？”（约翰福音18章11节） 之后，耶稣也对彼拉多说：“我的国不属这世界。我的国若属这世界，我的臣仆必要争战，使我不至于被交给犹太人；只是我的国不属这世界。”（36节）

当我们想到耶稣是万军之耶和华的独生子，在面临死亡的时刻依然选择不反抗，真让我们感到惊叹！将来有一天，祂会带领天军奋战。使徒约翰写道：“祂审判、争战都按着公义。”（启示录19章11节）

耶稣遵守天父的旨意，忍受被捕、审判和被钉十字架的苦难。祂甘愿被钉死在十字架上，成就了上帝的计划，使人心得到改变。祂是战胜死亡的得胜君王。

天父啊，我常常鲁莽行事，缺少智慧。
求祢向我显明祢在我生命中的旨意，
使我能选择祢的道路。

John 18:10-14New International Version (NIV)

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

John 18:36-37New International Version (NIV)

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

整理：于姊妹