Heal Thy Enemy
Date: February 22, 2026
Canvas: 24" x 24"
Cost: $495
Jesus said to him, “Put your sword away! All who use a sword will be killed by a sword.” —Matthew 25:52
I quickly get an image as I focus on today’s theme: The Garden of Gethsemane…the night before Jesus is crucified…anti-government extremists…religious and government powers…all conspire in darkness to unlawfully convict and execute an innocent man. As his disciples retaliate, Jesus commands them to stop—even as Jesus’ human-self is being crushed by the weight of suffering. Then, Jesus protests the injustice by healing his enemy’s ear that Peter—driven by fear—has cut off. Doug Glynn, in his message, rejects the melding of Christ’s name with government, specifically to justify government brutality. Doug then invites us to follow Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr.’s example of forgiveness and healing in the face of government brutality and harm from others.
Later, a friend, Brian Berryhill, says to me, ‘It looks like Peter is cutting off his own ear.’ And I respond, ‘Yeah, wow, you're right.’ Fear drives me to do the same as Peter—I want to retaliate one minute, then hide the next. Jesus shows a different way; with blood pouring down from his forehead he asks, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” I believe in this moment Jesus, the man, likely experiences the deconstruction of his nervous system; the ‘olive’ is pressed, rendering Healing Oil for all humankind [‘Gethsemene’=‘olive press’]. Finally, like God did for Jesus, Jesus meets us in our own Gethsemane, inviting us–even empowering us–to let our fear system be pressed down until Healing Oil flows out of us to heal our wounded enemies.