Why do so many Christians turn tail and run when trouble comes? Don’t they know we serve a King who is un-limited in His power, in His authority, in His strength, in His resources, etc. We understand so little, yet even what we do understand we often forget in the face of earthly power.
In John 18: When a mob, consisting of Judas, officer of the Jews, and a cohort/battalion of soldiers (which would have numbered about 300 to 480 men) come to take Jesus, He asks them “Who do you seek?”
They really didn’t understand or know, for if they had believed He was who He said He was, they would never have dared to try and take Him. Rather they answer, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Just a man from a town, not the Son of God sent by the Almighty Creator of the Universe, yet He answers them, “I am He.”
What happens next is surprising, yet it shouldn’t be. They do not lay hold of him, rather they draw back and fall to the ground. His words drive them back. A group of trained soldiers, facing an “unarmed” man retreat and fall to the ground.
But the part that always astounds me is something Jesus said during this event, which is recorded in Matthew 26:53 “…do you think I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (A single legion was anywhere from 3,000-6,000 soldiers. He saying He could have a host of 70,000+ in an instant.) Yet He tells His disciples to stand down and instead allows those who’ve come against Him to take Him, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, and that this would come to pass Col 2:15 “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Control was never taken from Him, He was never backed into a corner or caught off guard; rather Satan and his mob were the ones who found themselves caught off guard.
Later in John 19:10, Pilate is trying to scare Jesus into talking and says this, “Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
Jesus basically says to him, No you don’t. What you have is authority by permission from My Father who has a plan and is allowing you to crucify Me. The reason you are even breathing at this moment is to do the will of My Father.
They did not understand who He was or what He planned, for if they had, they never would have dared come against Him. (Jesus on the cross) “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Col 2:15
We know who He is, so why do we run when it is He who stands with us? We are in Christ. Do not fear!
Psalm 118:6 “The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
When the rocks speak 