On the night of his arrest,
so John's Gospel tells us,
Jesus gathered with those whom he loved,
together they would do
what they had so often done —
eat
drink
talk
laugh
pray.
On the night of his arrest,
so John's Gospel tells us,
Jesus gathered with those whom he loved
and things happened that never happened before.
Jesus took a towel,
donned a basin,
and washed the feet of his friends.
When they were cleansed,
he disclosed
his impending betrayal
by one who sat at the table.
Then, to their further astonishment,
he told them,
"Love one another."
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
"Love one another."
And in the loving,
he said,
people would know
that they were his followers.
"I'll follow you anywhere"
proclaimed Peter,
brave Peter.
"I will lay down my life for you."
Peter's courage shriveled,
his smile faded,
as Jesus said,
"Lay down your life?
No.
You will deny even knowing me."
The conversation turned
as Jesus spoke of preparing a place.
"How do we get there?"
asked practical Thomas.
"We don't know the way."
"You do," said Jesus.
"It's me.
I'm the Way."
Urging them to believe,
Jesus told of a coming Counselor
and his gift of unworldly peace.
Jesus told them many things
and again came those deeply simple words:
"Love one another."
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
He prayed
for those he knew,
those he loved.
Then they all went out —
to a garden where they would often go.
There the betrayer met them —
bringing with him
those who would arrest Jesus —
acolytes of the empire.
Taking no chances,
they brought
lanterns
torches
weapons.
From a distance,
Jesus saw them.
Seizing the initiative,
he stood to meet them.
"Whom do you seek?"
"Jesus of Nazareth."
"I am he."
They stood and stared.
Jesus.
The betrayer.
Soldiers.
Officials.
Followers.
Silence hung between them
as they waited
waited
waited
through eternal seconds.
Finally Peter,
bold Peter,
impetuous Peter,
acted.
Responding to the threat as he perceived it,
Peter drew his sword.
Moonlight flashed off the blade
as it arced through the air.
The scream of the high priest's servant
drowned the sound of Peter's sword
cutting through his ear.
Blood oozed through the fingers
that he clasped to the side of his head
as he sagged to the ground.
Around the circle,
jaws set,
hands clenched,
weapons eased from sheaths,
But before anyone could move,
Jesus stepped forward.
With one hand he grasped Peter's bloody blade.
"Enough!" he said.
Peter dropped his sword to the ground.
Then Jesus said,
"We strike not first nor last with the sword
We face threats together
armed with the weapons of the Spirit —
grace
courage
hope.
Meet evil not with evil
But with love's embrace.
Love one another."
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Then turning to face his betrayer,
turning to face those who came for him,
Jesus cleared his throat
to force down the fear that sought to claim him,
stood tall and strong,
and set forth to do just that.

— Mark Koenig