Craig's Experience in Wales A personal documentation of my journey as an exchange student in Great Britain

I am reading this book called Twelve Ordinary Men in which the author, John McArthur, delves into how Christ chooses common people to do extraordinary things. His focus is on the 12 disciples as he hones in on their individual lives, who they were, why Christ chose them, how He used them and so forth and so on. It is truly a fascinating book that I highly recommend to anyone who can read. And if you aren't able to read for some reason, then get somehow to read the book to you. Then again, if you're reading this right now then you must be able to read. Anyway, here's a passage that struck me that I wanted to share with you. It is very simple yet it hit me like a load of bricks. Would I stand up for Christ in this manner? Would I act this way in protecting my Savior? It's fascinating to think about and to apply to one's life: "In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Roman soldiers from Fort Antonia came to arrest Jesus, all three synoptic Gospel writers say there was a "great multitude" armed "with swords and staves" (Matthew 26:47; cf. Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47). A typical Roman cohort consisted of six hundred soldiers, so in all likelihood there were hundreds of battle-ready Roman troops in and around the garden that night. Without hesitating, Peter pulled out his sword and took a swing at the head of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. (The high priest an his personal staff would have been in the front of the mob, because he was the dignitary ordering the arrest.) Peter was undoubtedly trying to cut the man's head off. But Peter was a fisherman, not a swordsman. Malchus ducked, and his ear was severed. So Jesus "touched his ear and healed him" (Luke 22:51). Then He told Peter, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). (Thus He affirmed the equity of capital punishment as a divine law.) HERE'S THE PART THAT REALLY GETS ME: "Think about that incident. There was an entire detachment of Roman soldier there - perhaps numbering in the hundreds. What did Peter think he was going to do? Behead them all, one by one?" I visualize this scene and try to place myself right next to Peter. Would I reach for my sword or would I take a step back? Could I face hundreds of soldiers with a single sword and few men behind me? Peter's love for Christ must have been so incredibly firm and steadfast. May we all aim to possess the same courage, strength and love that Peter has so strongly displayed. God bless, everyone. Philippians 1:3, Craig