The answer is: Sword

Luke 22:25-38

In this vivid passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus prepares his disciples for the tumultuous times ahead. When he tells them to sell their cloaks and buy swords, it’s easy to picture the scene as one of intrigue and anticipation. They are gearing up not just for physical battles but also spiritual skirmishes—a theme recurrent in scriptures.

What’s captivating here is the kind of swords Jesus is talking about. Historically, swords were emblematic of both defense and authority. However, His directive leads to some unexpected confusion among the disciples, highlighted when they proudly mention they have two swords. Jesus notably defuses this rising tension, indicating their meaning is more symbolic than literal.

Imagine the disciples—who’d previously been nourishing their faith in peace and love—now dealing with this warrior archetype. It echoes Isaiah 2:4 where nations would beat swords into plowshares. Are we meant to follow the call to wield a sword or transform the very instruments of conflict into tools for growth and peace?

Moreover, throughout Luke, there’s this intriguing contrast of Jesus as a compassionate teacher advocating spirit-led love versus the harsh realities of a world preparing for conflict. This duality allows us to explore what it means to engage with strife in our own lives, often calling for peace while honing the strategy for challenging days to come. So, when we think of swords, perhaps we ought to reflect more on the call to readiness rather than arming ourselves for battle.