From the sublime to the obscure. The text today (Luke 22:35-38) is not clear.
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.
1. Missional Jesus (evidently) teaches here that his followers will need swords for physical protection.
2. Missional Jesus says this when he connects himself to the Servant of Isaiah — and his theme here is that of being classed with transgressors, those who violate the law and get punished. Jesus knows he is innocent, but he will be classed with them and therefore put down.
3. More likely in my judgment, #1 is mistaken: since sword is used for animosity and hostility and since in 22:49-51, it is more likely that Jesus warns of hostility instead of reception. When the disciples respond with “Hey, we’ve got protection; two swords,” Jesus’ response is one of exasperation — as it was in 22:51.
Still, I’m not sure the text is clear and we need to be wise about using this text.