There is no call to Christian Jihad

Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. (Luke 22:36, NKJV) 

In my opinion ^† it is easier to understand what this passage isn’t whether than what it is. What it is not is a call to violence or a call to armed rebellion. 

Look at the response of the disciples and Jesus’ telling retort: 

So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords. And He said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:38, NKJV) 

Jesus’ response “It is enough” has been taken two ways. The first that two swords will suffice, the second (more probable I would say ^†) is that the disciples' unthinking banter is enough, because they had missed the boat on what he was saying, which was not meant to be taken literally. 

In either case, the interpretation that this is a divine call to violence or arms is on shaky ground. The disciples have, in their armory, two swords. Two! That is nowhere near enough to stand against any force that could be and would be arrayed against them. If Jesus’ “It is enough” means that two swords would suffice militarily against their future foes, he must have envisioned a war against a small, pacifist cub-scout troop. The disciples, a ragtag group of militarily untrained laborers, with a total of two swords, would not scare or resist anyone. (At least not with their literal metal swords. Their non-literal two-edged swords would turn out to be very effective.)

The nail in the coffin of the view that Jesus authorizes some sort of Christian jihad comes just hours later at the time of His arrest, when a sword (very likely one of these two swords) was put into action. Jesus instructs the sword to be put away and heals the injury it caused. 

Jesus’ “It is enough” response is better understood as a somewhat reluctant acknowledgment that they had altogether missed the meaning of his word picture. 

Perhaps Jesus was telling his disciples something like this: ^† 

Remember earlier in my ministry when I sent you out to the towns, and told you to take no food, no money, no anything? That was in recognition of the fact that while you would not be universally welcomed, you be welcomed by more than enough who would be happy to meet your needs. But those days are about to end. Now you will be unwelcome everywhere, and you need to be prepared to meet your own needs. 

We see this, I believe, in the verse in between the two I already quoted: 

For I say to you that this which is written must still be [accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” (Luke 22:37, NKJV) 

He will be numbered with the transgressors. Those who share a cross with him at Calvary, and those who carry on his ministry.

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^† Everything in this blog related to theology is "in my opinion" only. Don’t trust anything I write.