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Intention

To empower us to live for Christ by appreciating that only His sacrifice – and surrendering to its truth – makes kingdom work possible.

Scripture

“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”

– John 18:10–11

Reflection

My first car was a Corolla. I bought it because back in the day, Corollas were famous for going half a million kilometres on their original engine.

I was a student at the time, and I was pretty frugal. I’d only buy petrol at the lowest price I could find. My “hack” was knowing how far I could go after the fuel light came on so I could stretch it until the price dropped again.

As you might have guessed, my system wasn’t perfect. I remember more than one occasion where I pushed it too far and ended up stuck, needing someone else’s help to get me out of a very embarrassing situation.

Having a car felt like freedom. But without fuel, it was useless.

In a similar way, we can have all the right strategies to advance God’s kingdom, but without spiritual fuel, they don’t amount to much.

In this passage, Peter tries to achieve something through human strength that is in God’s hands alone. He thought he was helping — taking action for the kingdom — but he was actually getting in the way.

Jesus stopped Peter — but not because He didn’t want His kingdom to advance. He stopped Peter because there was only one way His kingdom could advance: through the cross.

Jesus asked, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” The “cup” is an Old Testament image of God’s judgment. Jesus was about to drink down the judgment we deserved so we could be forgiven and free.

Here in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter didn’t get it yet. But later, he did, and eventually wrote about it in his letters.

In 1 Peter 2:24, he explained, “Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” And in 1 Peter 3:18: “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” He also wrote, “You were ransomed… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19).

Peter finally came to see the truth: Jesus’ finished work on the cross is what makes everything else possible. That’s what fuels real kingdom work.

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, Peter became a powerful evangelist and missionary. He preached at Pentecost, led the early church, took the gospel to the Gentiles, performed miracles, wrote Scripture, and paid the ultimate price as a martyr for Christ.

No longer was Peter relying on the arm of the flesh. After the resurrection, he was fuelled by the Spirit, grounded in the gospel, and empowered by faith in Jesus’  finished work.

That’s the lesson for us too. We’re called to play an active role in God’s kingdom. But we don’t do it by force, ego, fear, or control. We do it by faith — trusting that what Jesus did at Calvary is enough.

There’s one more insight in this chapter that’s easy to miss, but incredible.

Back in John 18:6, the guards ask Jesus if He’s the one they’re looking for. He replies, “I am he.” Or, in some versions, simply “I am.” This is the same phrase God used when speaking to Moses from the burning bush — “I AM who I AM”.

What happens when Jesus speaks these words? The detachment of soldiers falls to the ground.

It’s a moment of revelation. Jesus wasn’t just a good man, a moral teacher, or a political threat. He was — and is — God in the flesh.

That’s why we can trust Him.

Even when it feels like things are falling apart, or we’re surrounded, or we don’t understand the plan — Jesus is in complete control.

He loved us all the way to the cross, He drank the cup, and now He empowers us to live for Him — not by force, but by faith.

Video

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for going to the cross — for drinking the cup, for loving us to the very end. Help me not to rely on my own strength, but to trust completely in Your finished work. Use me to advance Your kingdom, by faith. Amen.

Author Bio

Kurt Mahlburg is a husband to Angie, a father, a freelance writer, and a familiar Australian voice on culture and the Christian faith. He is the Senior Editor and a regular columnist at The Daily Declaration.

Kurt’s breakout title, Cross and Culture: Can Jesus Save the West?, explores the social and spiritual challenges facing Western nations and the hope Jesus offers in our crisis.

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2. Wisdom for voters to perceive the true agenda of political parties. Proverbs 14:15

3. A church that disciples the nation in this window of grace. Matthew 28:18–20

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