There is a verse, a wee little one in the gospels, that isn't particularly cool or charismatic enough for a bumper sticker/throw pillow. I think it is super under-appreciated in today's Christianity. Any guesses? I'll give you a hint. 

It's in the Gospel of John. Nope, not John 3:16, the most wonderful verse of all time. No, the passage I want to discuss with you is way more obscure and obtuse than that particular one. The verse is John 18:11.

Do you know it? If not, it's okay. Like I said, it is not particularly popular nowadays. This verse is super short, but it packs a punch. Here, below, is what it says:

Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

Peter, being Peter, has just done the most natural, normal thing that one would do when surrounded by his or her enemies. He has struck back. In fact, not only has he struck back, but he has actually injured one of the servants of the High Priest in this scene at the garden, cutting off the man's ear. Normally, and logically, you would think Jesus would be most pleased at this. After all, Peter is showing courage. He is bravely defending Christ, and in his mind, Christ's best interests. I mean, who really thinks that going to jail is the best option in any circumstance? Certainly not us, and nor did Peter in this passage. 

But God's design for this scene is to start a chain link reaction where He is crucified so that He might rise again as atonement for our sins. And part of that process is, sadly, of course, getting arrested and being tried by the Chief Priest in a crooked trial.

So Peter's actions were actually not aligned with God at all in this moment, despite what he thought. Now, naturally, in this day and age, we don't carry around swords in our pockets (LOL). But you and I do possess our own version of weapons that we can use just as effectively as Peter's sword.

Some of our weapons include, but are not exclusively limited to:

• Harsh words spoken or unspoken
• Our actions, particularly reluctance to get involved or offer assistance to someone who has wronged us
• An inverted use of our God-given talents with regards to that certain someone
• Forgiveness or blessing withheld due to offense.

I could go on, but I won't. Suffice to say, each one of us has been tempted to use one of these weapons, or others which I've not named, with regards to our enemies, whomever they may be. I know I have.

Furthermore, I will be the first to confess that I've used all four of these weapons at various time in my life. Can I let you in on a little secret? It's important.

I have regretted each time I have used one of my weapons on someone.

Oh sure, it feels so good in the adrenaline rush of the moment, or even in the mental rumination of the day or week when it takes place. But once time has passed, I've always regretted either the loss of the relationship, or the fact that I didn't act more Christlike to that one stranger/coworker/friend/family member who rightfully, in my opinion, bore the full weight of my wrath.

Furthermore, I believe these sorts of incidents happen for three main reasons.

1. We all are flawed human beings prone to being driven by our flesh at times, and our flesh often raises its head during our most hurtful moments when we are weak and vulnerable.
2. We have a lack of trust with regard to God's ability to actually get justice for us in the utmost practical sense. Forgetting how God delivered His people from Egypt, or how Jesus drove the money changers from the temple. Both of these moments were amazing examples of how God does not stay passive during times of explicit oppression.
3. Past triggers in the deepest part of our hearts that haven't been fully healed, causing us to misread a situation and become disconnected and discombobulated from reality.

This is where Jesus is so wise. He knows the consequences of us using our weapons of destruction, so much so that He says in Matthew 5:38,

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."

Additionally, when talking about the injustice we all receive in this life, Jesus says a few verses later in verse 41, 

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles."

These types of commandments, along with the verse we've been talking about, give us a chance to truly change the world. By obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit instead of our more human desires to strike back with our weapons, we can bring the Kingdom of Heaven into situations that the world would deem unredeemable.

One example immediately springs to mind. Corrie Ten Boom, the legendary Dutch author and speaker, was conducting a revival meeting in Germany after World War II. During the altar call, she recognized a man coming forward who was one of the guards that had served at the brutal prison camp Ravensbrück, where she and her family were sent after being caught hiding Jews during the Nazi occupation. If anyone ever had the "right" to pick up a weapon, it was Corrie at this moment. This man and others like him had been incredibly savage. Beatings and starvation were commonplace. Surely, she shouldn't lay down her weapons.

But she did. She forgave the man and accepted him as her brother in Christ, changing his destiny. May we do the same to others as well whenever the situation arises.