You can't use violence to protect Jesus.

Jesus teaches "for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Matthew 26:46-54 ⁴⁶ Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand." ⁴⁷ While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." ⁴⁹ At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?"

Jesus voluntarily walks into the hands of those who will reject, torture, and kill him.  He knows that it is the will of God for him to become the sacrifice that will allow the reconciliation of humanity to God.  But there is one disciple, who hadn't gotten the memo that Jesus was going to accept this path willingly.   John records in his gospel that it is Peter who pulls out a sword and resorts to violence to protect Jesus.  Jesus says "No violence!  I don't need it.  I am doing this willingly."

What is going on in Peter's mind?  He has proclaimed his loyalty to Jesus even to his own death.  And now he is showing that he meant it - and draws a sword to protect Jesus.  He certainly couldn't single-handedily fight off the crowd (bearing weapons) who have shown up with the purpose of taking Jesus.  Peter is willing to go down in a fight.  But Jesus won't let Peter fight.  Jesus allows himself to be captured. 

What is going on in Peter's mind as Jesus is led away - the sword still at his side?  In just a few hours Peter will be identified as one of Jesus' followers, but Peter will deny it.  Peter is willing to go out fighting, but he is not willing to voluntarily turn himself over to Jesus' enemies which would have certainly happened had he told the truth that he was Jesus' follower. 

I think Peter faces the same question we often face as a nation - even as individuals.  There is an enemy that wants to harm us.  We know how to use violence, but we can't imagine just giving ourselves over to the enemy - standing by when we have a sword and letting the enemy take us.  That would be insane.  Right?

We admire people who are willing to go out fighting the enemy:  "Don't go down without a fight!"  They are our heroes.  But we laugh at people who say, "I won't resort to violence."  We don't admire or even understand people who give themselves over to the enemy without a fight.  That is foolish!  But this is the foolishness of being Jesus' follower.  Can we ever justify protecting the things of God through violence?  Jesus tells Peter not to use violence - there is a better way for Jesus' followers to behave - one that demonstrates we have placed not only our souls, but our bodies into the hands of God.  I am sad that in 2000 years, we still see violence as the answer. 

Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that all who take the sword will die by the sword?