A battle is looming, indeed is already underway, as Christians are discovering that they are not just in the minority, but frequently actively under increasing attack for holding traditional biblical beliefs. Many at Prophecy Today and Issachar Ministries believe that this is set to intensify – with the country facing continued judgement for our decades of turning away from Him.

Yet even as we face this battle, we need to reflect on the events of that first Easter weekend, when our Lord Jesus became the sacrificial Passover lamb for our sins.

Jesus then faced the biggest conflict of His earthly life. It was a battle against the powers of sin and darkness, even greater than the one we face today, and the one that won the decisive victory. And it is to Jesus that we need to look as we face our struggles.

Preparation

The night before ‘Good Friday’, in preparation for his ordeal, Jesus spent time with His friends, and probably family too. That evening was spent in prayer, for Himself, for His disciples and for all believers to come; in loving service to His disciples by washing their feet; a little teaching; and fellowship through a shared meal.

We would do well, as we face upcoming battles of all types, to follow Jesus’ example.

We would do well, as we face upcoming battles of all types, to follow Jesus’ example. By way of preparation, this would encompass three things:

• showing love and praying for each other, in intimate fellowship;
• following Jesus’ key teaching before the crucifixion, which was to remain in Him, and to love one another;
• and seeking unity, as a key message of Jesus’ prayer for his followers was that we might be one, and brought to complete unity, with Him and with each other.

Honesty, not hostility

After praying in the garden of Gethsemane (even Jesus didn’t want to face the ordeal set for Him) He was arrested. What did Jesus do? Did He resist? No. He replied to those seeking Jesus of Nazareth with direct simplicity: “I am he” (Jn 18:6).

Peter tried to step in and prevent His arrest. He struck off the ear of the priest’s servant (Jn 18:10). But Luke records that Jesus didn’t just rebuke him; He healed the man’s ear (Lk 22:49-51). This was one of the party who had come to arrest Him, and yet He acted with compassionate love towards His ‘enemy’, though He had nothing to gain by doing so.

He acted with compassionate love towards His ‘enemy’, though He had nothing to gain by doing so.

It is also incredible to us how Jesus treated the soldiers who crucified Him. In the most powerful example for us to follow, He prayed for them: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Battling with love

As we go into ‘battle’, as we face potential persecution, I believe that it is the same power that needs to be at work in us – that of the love of the God who gave Himself for us.

I sense that it is also time to change tactics in the culture wars – to one of lavishing love upon our ‘enemies’. As an illustrative example, much has been made, quite understandably, of the laws against praying outside abortion clinics. Those who have done so have indeed been motivated by love – love for the unborn, for those mothers in difficult circumstances – and they have endeavoured to show this through prayer, whilst also offering help. Crazy as it is, we can no longer legally do that.

But there is no law against showing love in other ways. We could, perhaps, turn up instead with bunches of flowers to give to those who are considering, or who have even gone through with, an abortion. Many will be there because they are struggling financially – how about food parcels or hampers to offer them? Even monetary gifts, or vouchers. Or bringing flowers to those working in the clinics – showing them the love of God in a way they can accept.

An upside-down strategy

None of this is entirely new, of course. But this is Jesus’ example to challenge the darkness already upon us. It is the upside-down world of the gospel of the Kingdom, where we love not just our friends, but our ‘enemies’ too. Where forgiveness, and self-sacrifice, whatever form that may take, play a crucial part in victory, alongside prayer.

It is the upside-down world of the gospel of the Kingdom, where we love not just our friends, but our ‘enemies’ too.

The story of the priest’s servant who had his ear cut off is recorded in all four gospels (though only Luke records the healing). John, the last of the gospels to be written, many years later, records the servant’s name. We cannot know, but I suspect that Jesus’ love and compassion towards this ‘enemy’ brought him to faith, in time – and that would be how John knew his name, and was able to pass his name on to succeeding generations.

Let us stand for the truth of His word, sharing who He is with a desperate world – but by acting out His grace for those who we could so easily consider ‘enemies’ in this world.

For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness. Yet, Jesus has already won the decisive victory through His love and self-sacrifice.

As we face hostility, let us do so in the same manner as our Lord and Saviour: showing lavish grace, through the power of His Spirit, and in love for all – knowing His presence with us in every step that we take.