3. How did Jesus respond when confronted by enemies? Luke 22:47-51.
NOTE: ‘In His instruction to His disciples Jesus had also said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” Matthew 5:44. Here He gave a practical illustration of that teaching also. Not only did He reprove Peter for his act of violence to the high priest’s servant, but He again showed that He came to save, and not to destroy. He was already in the hands of the mob (Mark 14:46, 47), when the wound was inflicted by the zealous Peter, but He gently disengaged one hand, at the same time courteously saying, as if apologising for seeming to resist them even to do them a kindness, “Suffer ye thus far,” and touched the servant’s ear, and healed him. Could Divine kindness be more strikingly manifested? Truly, this Man was the Saviour of the world. Here we may well rest and contemplate. It is but a brief narrative that we have been studying, but it shines with Divine light. Only one thing more need be said, and that is, “Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 3:3.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, May 4, 1899.
4. What supreme example of Jesus loving His enemies are we shown? Luke 23:33-34.
NOTE: ‘Not only did no words of reproach against His persecutors fall from the lips of Christ, but none appear in the record of His sufferings. On the cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Thus He illustrated His own words to us, “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, January 2, 1896.
5. What conclusion did Peter draw from this? 1 Peter 2:21-23.
NOTE: ‘The love that Jesus manifested in washing the feet of Judas was the same as that which prompted the prayer for those who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” He who washed the feet of Judas would just as readily have washed the feet of Pilate or the chief priests. And not only would He have washed the feet of these men, if occasion had called for it, but He would have performed any other service for them; for the feet-washing stood as the representative of all kinds of service for others. No man ever did a baser deed than Judas did; and the fact that Jesus did for him the most humble service, knowing that he was at the time under the direct influence of the devil, and planning the most heartless perfidy against his chief Benefactor, is evidence to us that Christ would gladly and lovingly serve His worst enemies. This is a strong ground of consolation to us, making it possible to come to Him with confidence, in spite of our sins against Him: but it is more than that; it is a lesson to us as to how we should treat those who might be considered our enemies.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, April 6, 1899.