Day40 - into battle

 I happened to switch on the telly yesterday to find Kenneth Brannagh as Henry V giving Shakespeare's wonderful St Crispins Day speech

This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, from this day to the ending of the world,but we in it shall be remembered- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition; And gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

 

Listening to the rousing speech and the cheering of the soldiers reminded me of Mel Gibson , all blue and tartan, riding out in front of the rag-tag band of soldiers in Braveheart to give his ' Freedom' speech.  And I started to ponder all the great leaders of history ( the ones who havent been given dramatic lines by playwrights) who have rallied their troops and their nations at times of crisis.  

For the UK two of the most well known will be Elizabeth 1st when faced with the Spanish Armada, and Churchill during WW2. 

''I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too''

''We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.''

Throughout recorded history leaders have always addressed their people before great battles.  The ancient Greeks and Romans delivered rousing speeches to troops they were fully expecting to be slaughtered - commanding courage and emphasising the need for sacrifice in order to secure victory,

I suddenly saw Jesus's words during Holy Week in a new light.  He knew that His death and resurrection was about to usher in the final battle - the birth of the church was about to multiply His presence on the earth a billion-fold and send the enemy into a blind fury. 

In Matthew 24 and 25 Jesus tells the disciples what is going to happen in coming days.  It's the rallying speech to His followers, outlining all the coming opposition 

''For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matt 24 6-8)  

It's a bit Churchillian isnt it? 😊  You can imagine the disciples being a bit freaked out by the picture Jesus was painting.  He goes on to say that the disciples will be persecuted and put to death and everything will be as grim as it can possibly be BUT THEN...''.this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.''

All the great leaders of history have told their people the true state of affairs and what it will cost to fight.  All great leaders have known perfectly well that many listening to their battle speeches wont be alive at the end of the day, but that to fight is the only way to secure peace and freedom.  Jesus is no different.  He tells of the persecution of His followers, the signs in the heavens, the false messiahs and then He says He is coming back.  And to those who have held on and battled through and kept the faith there will be reward and peace and eternal life

"If the world hates you, remember that they hated me before you". "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

When I think about Elizabeth 1 at Tillsbury, Henry V at Agincourt, William Wallace at Sterling and Churchill in Parliament I think of noble and brave individuals charged with the future of their kingdoms, willing to stand and fight with their subjects. I see people weighed down with the responsibility of strategising well, deploying resources wisely and ultimately being accountable to the country for every life lost. This too is Jesus. The general of the armies of the Lord. Rallying His troops both on earth and in heaven during the last few weeks of His life. Ready to die with and for His people. Leaving us with a speech to inspire and encourage us as the battle rages.