No Violence

And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. 

Isaiah 53:9 

The testimony of Christ was that He did no violence. This was evidence, not of weakness, but of strength. It was not an indication of powerlessness, but of power under control. He was clearly aware of His capabilities. After Peter had cut off the ear of a servant of the High Priest, Christ said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?’  Christ could have destroyed His enemies with a word. He went on, later, to point out to Pilate, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Thus Christ sets the standard for His people in the world. Paul takes up the same idea when he writes, ‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.’ In the light of these statements, as followers of Christ, we cannot lightly set them aside. Regardless of our political persuasion or ideas about rights, Christ has shown us how to live in the world. We cannot rightly follow Him by attempting to marry Christianity to a culture of violence, regardless of its ends. Christ did no violence, even in the face of false accusations and blatant injustice. He forbad His followers from it. If we are followers of Christ, His way is our way. 

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we praise You for the example You have set for us. 
We rejoice that we have the privilege 
of seeing how You have walked in the world. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning