Another (Brief) Case for Nonviolent Resistance

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to Peter after the disciple wacked off Malchus’ ear. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matt. 26:52). In other words, violence, politically motivated or otherwise, only creates a spiral that consume individuals, movements, and sometimes even whole nations.

But Jesus did more than speak to Peter’s act, he healed the soldier who had come to do him harm (Luke 22:51). What’s that about? Pretty obvious, isn’t it? It wasn’t like he did it to change the minds of the arresting soldiers about taking him in. They went on with it and finished their mission to bring him to their bosses who sent him to die. So why?

Jesus healed Malchus in recognition of his humanity, because he loved him. He saw him as a bearer of the image of God. The man came to harm him and was harmed in the process by one of Jesus’ ill-advised disciples. Rather than let it slide, Jesus debunked Peter’s violent misdeed and repaired the damage to a person he loved in spite what the man came into the garden to do.

Even if Jesus’ command to Peter about putting his sword back in its place cannot be definitively interpreted to apply to all cases of potential violent response to violence, his healing makes the point in even clearer terms. Instead of fighting back with overwhelming angelic support at his disposal, Jesus does the opposite by healing his enemy. We know that he prayed from the cross, “Forgive them.” But in this case, he forgives AND heals one of the very men who came to drag him off to be tortured and lynched.

Another example of Jesus loving his enemies rather than harm them.