Isn't it Ironic?

 

As I was doing our Daily Walk Bible reading today in John 18-21 I was reminded of the amazingly-catchy, though atrociously-annoying, song by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette called "Ironic." In the song Morissette sings about various things in life that are supposedly ironic. For example, the irony of "10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife" or "rain on a wedding day" or "a free ride when you've already paid." The reality is most of the examples in her song are not ironic, nevertheless the song still pops in my head when I hear or read about something that seems "ironic."

For example, John opens chapter 18 by setting the stage for Jesus's arrest and I found it ironic that it happened in "a grove of olive trees" (18:1). As you know, olives and the olive branch are international symbols of peace. So why does this horde of Roman soldiers and Temple guards "with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons" arrive "at the olive grove" to arrest Jesus? After all, Paul says in Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." To me, it seems Jesus is the shining example of peace and yet how ironic it is that these soldiers and guards would come to arrest him in an olive grove!

This is the man, after all, who told his disciples, "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give" (John 14:27, NLT).

Later, in one of his last teachings, he said to his disciples  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV).

And after he was resurrected he said to the disciples two times, "Peace be with you" (John 20:19, 21) and then eight days later to doubting Thomas he made the same comment "Peace be with you" (John 20:26).

My question for us today is this, do we come to Jesus like the Roman soldiers and Temple guards with war and hatred in our hearts? Do we come in the dark, afraid we will be found out and exposed? Do we come with our own agendas and plans, wanting to arrest him to our desires and whims?

Or

Do we come to Him with humble hearts and open minds? Do we come ready to receive, and eagerly desiring, "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Phil. 4:7)? Or do we come seeking "the God of peace" (Phil. 4:9) who is only found through his Son Jesus Christ?