A Disarming Message

Bringing their swords and clubs, they hid their fear in one another and shouted what alone they would never say.  They reinforced the importance of being armed against the threat of his message. They made noise through which his truth could not seep.  Were they hoping he would resist, battle in their terms, find swords and shouting to meet their own?  They might have felt justified, but Jesus would not play.  His response did not change nor did his message.  If it were a contest he had won -- but it was more than that.