Quiet Resolve—Timed, Tempered and Tailored
John 18:1-11
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No fight—but in total control. That’s the overall impression that Jesus portrays in this scene. He already knew that this was his fate: being betrayed by a close disciple, unjustly seized, and arrested by a government party. Despite the circumstances, Jesus was in total control of himself. That seems to be the great lesson that this passage leaves for us.
My mother carried this type of trait. She was 4 feet 11 inches, but she commanded much respect. And she had no trouble standing up for herself, even in scenarios where she had no control and when she was the one being wronged. She taught me and my siblings to handle ourselves the same way: no fight—but in total control of ourselves.
I saw my mother respond this way when reacting to racism in our small southern town. As she was standing in line at the bank, she was overlooked by the teller for a white man. My mother went up to the teller’s counter and simply said (without yelling), “Excuse me, you looked over me. I know I’m short, but I’m not that short! Now, I know where we’ve come from, but I don’t have to take that anymore. So, I’m next, so please serve me.” Well said and effective. Of course, being younger and never having experienced such racism, I wanted to make a scene. Or at least not speak so nicely to the teller. Somewhat like Peter, who was with Jesus when he was accosted. Jesus told Peter to stay out of it and stay calm, letting him know he was in control. My mother communicated the same to me.
I saw her react with that same calm other times, even when she was betrayed by those close to her, like Judas was to Jesus. A very Christlike spirit. One that is sometimes hard to maintain.
These days, many things happen in our government and among our society that call us to this type of response. We have limited or no power in what’s happening. We do what we can. We respond in straightforward ways while holding ourselves accountable for worthy behavior. We may need to speak up. Or speak out. Some of us need to find our voice and speak up. Confrontation may be a necessity. Confront your past. Confront some of the people who impacted you in your past. Confront the systems that are disavowing and even dangerous. Voting in all levels of government is one sure response. Protesting or marching might be the necessary response. Respond. Maybe like Malcolm said, “By any means necessary.”
We live among religious zealots who tout legalistic, xenophobic, patriarchal religion that justifies racism, sexism, and classism. This, just as it was in Jesus’ day, and like Jesus, we have to live our lives fully and worship and commune with the Divine as we can. Jesus had just prayed when this scene took place. Jesus prayed and in doing so admitted his true feelings about what was about to happen and went to face it.
So we should do the footwork while we wait for God to do God’s part. Pray. Do the research to see where the resources are. Prepare yourselves. Be willing to realize that someone you thought was close to you will betray you. Be in total control of yourself. Remember that like Jesus, we can know that the love of the great I am is in control of everything.
