“Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:52-54 NASB)
Joseph P. Kennedy may get credit for coming up with the proverb, “When the tough gets rough, the tough get going,” in the late 1800’s. Billy Ocean may have popularized the saying in song almost 100 years later, in the late 1900’s, and many coaches have inspired their players, perhaps even you, to perform greatly when facing great opponents. This witticism, a witty saying, may have even been used by you to motivate others at some time in your life. Hopefully it will motivate you today if you face a tough obstacle, internal or external. That’s good if it does, if something positive takes place because of the saying being adopted by you on this Thursday morning. But read on!
There is something much greater than the witticism. There is “The Witness,” Jesus Christ. According to Matthew’s gospel, after Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, and following preventing Peter from changing course of history by starting a knife fight by cutting off the ear of the servant of the high priest, Jesus lets him know something of great significance, that shows how much Jesus sacrificed for us by His suffering that saved us. Jesus, “The Witness” shows us the epitome of what it means by Kennedy’s saying and Ocean’s song. If you revisit the verses above in context, you will see that Jesus could have called somewhere between 36,000 to 72, 000 angels to come to His rescue. But Jesus is “The Witness” because in obedience to the Father, and determined to fulfill prophecy, He headed towards the trials, the torture, and the time on a cross located on a place called Golgotha, just to save a wretch like you and me. Can you shout, “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!” Guess what, you would not have been able shout in such a way if Jesus did not give His life so that we may live.
The witticism is great. “The Witness” is greater.” Let the latter be your example to keep pressing on today and you yourself, be a witness for the Lord. Somebody repeat these lyrics, “I’ll be a sanctified witness!” Make the words of the Psalmist written below your words today. Be blessed!
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear what can man do unto me.” (Psalm 118:6 King James Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King