John 18:1-14
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
The news out of Egypt in regard to the Coptic Christians is not good. The Daily Beast reports the following:
The news coming out of Egypt is staggering. USA Today reports that “forty churches have been looted and torched, while 23 others have been attacked and heavily damaged” in one week. According to the Coptic Orthodox and Catholic churches in Egypt, 160 Christian-owned buildings have also been attacked.
In one town, Islamists paraded three nuns on the streets like prisoners of war after burning their Franciscan school. The attackers tore a cross off the gate of the school and replaced it with an Islamist flag. The New York Times described hundreds of Islamists in one attack, “lashing out so ferociously that marble altars were left in broken heaps on the floor.”
USA Today’s article: “Egypt’s Christians under attack…” on the situation seems to have caught little traction, and no reaction from US government officials. It is a sad situation and the people of Egypt need our prayers. Many Christians consider the blame that is being placed on the Coptic Christians today in Egypt to be scapegoating. The Christians are being blamed for the violence, when in fact, “The leader of the military, like nearly every top government official in Egypt, is a devout Muslim.” (Daily Beast)
Jesus’ arrest and reaction to Peter when he cut off Malchus’ ear assure us, however, that God is able to take even the worst situation and turn it to a Kingdom victory. As Luther says in his Small Catechism, “The kingdom of God comes even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come among us also.” He goes on to explain that the “Kingdom of God comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.”
That doesn’t say much about physical worldly manifestations of God’s kingdom. He doesn’t mention peace, health, success, or favorable world conditions. Luther points us toward the work of the Holy Spirit, to faith in Jesus, and to our lives being godly and well-lived.
I don’t believe we should, therefore, ignore situations of injustice, Christian persecution, immorality or indecency. Micah summarizes God’s calling to a godly life:”…do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” It’s a lot about how we act, not just how others act toward us. Which means our calling is to speak up in behalf of those who are being unjustly treated. Whenever possible we must come to their aid. Certainly we must keep them in our prayers.
Two thousand years ago Jesus took the most unjust punishment ever met out on any human being so that we could receive his pure and perfect righteousness. As those who have received this gift, we must pray and work to honor him, seek his kingdom, and love and support one another and all people near and far away.
Thy kingdom come! Thy will be done on earth – as it is in heaven. Lord have mercy and grant us your peace. Amen.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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