Luke 22:35-38 - Preparing For Spiritual Warfare

Welcometo Pastor's Chat. Today, we're continuing in Luke chapter 22, looking at verses35 through 38. Jesus is with the disciples in the upper room, or in the processof leaving for the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas has already gone to gather Romansoldiers to arrest Jesus and take Him to trial. It’s Thursday evening, but inthe Jewish calendar, it’s Friday, and Jesus knows He will be crucified. He ispreparing His disciples for this time, having already warned them ofpersecution and tribulation in John chapter 16, saying, “Don’t let your heartbe troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. I’m going away, but I’llcome again, and I’m sending the Holy Spirit.” These things were said in theupper room, as recorded in John’s Gospel. Now,Jesus is preparing His disciples for spiritual warfare in a new dispensation.After telling Peter in verses 31-34, “…Satan has asked for you, that he maysift you as wheat…. And before the rooster crows you  will deny three times that you know Me”, Jesusnow says in verse 35, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, andsandals, did you lack anything?” They replied, “Nothing.” He’s referring towhen He sent the twelve to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the lost sheepof Israel, proclaiming, “The King is here; Jesus the Messiah is here—receiveHim, trust Him, believe Him.” They lacked nothing because God miraculouslyprovided as they preached throughout Israel. ThenHe says, “But now,” signaling a shift to a new time. He’s going away, andthey’ll be left to take the gospel of grace to the world, not just to Israelbut to the Gentiles. “He who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise aknapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For Isay to you that this which is written must be accomplished in Me: ‘And He wasnumbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”  Jesusis quoting Isaiah 53:12, saying, “I’m numbered with the transgressors. I’mgoing to the cross to pay the price for the sins of the world. Somethingdifferent is coming—I’ll be resurrected and leave, but you’ll take this gospelto the world.” All things concerning Him will be accomplished; on the cross,His final words, “It is finished,” marked the completion of Hissubstitutionary, atoning work. Jesus is signaling the end of the dispensation ofOld Covenant as He fulfill all the prophesies and the demands of the Law bybecoming the final sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is about to finishthe Old and bring in the New! The disciples, still not grasping His meaning,say, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” Jesus responds, “It is enough,” notmeaning that two swords are sufficient to fight the Roman soldiers inGethsemane, but rather, He was saying, “We’re done talking—you’ll understandlater.” It was only, after 40 days of studying the Word, and spending time withthe Lord between the resurrection and His Ascension, and 10 more days in  prayers in the Upper Room, and after the HolySpirit came upon them on Pentecost, did they begin to comprehend what Jesus wastalking about.  What Jesus is basically saying to them was,“Set aside the message of the gospel of the kingdom for another time. Now youwill go forth with the sword of the Spirit. You cannot fight this battle in theflesh—it must be through the power of prayer and the Word of God, with the HolySpirit working in and through you.” Whata powerful passage. Remember how Paul said it in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “Forthe weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling downstrongholds.”  And in Philippians3:1-11, Paul proclaimed that he had no confidence in the flesh but in the resurrectionpower of Jesus Christ! Today,let’s make sure that we are serving Jesus in the Spirit, not in the flesh. Godbless!