Friday, March 22, 2013
John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
LOVE TOWARD MALCHUS
When Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), He went on to demonstrate this very sort of love, perfectly living out the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).
When Peter's wild thrust with the sword left the high priest's servant Malchus with one less ear than he had before, Jesus demonstrated love for His enemy. "He touched the man's ear and healed him" (Luke 22:51).
Did Malchus realize in that moment that this truly was the Son of God? Did this healing of his body lead also to a healing of his soul? We do not know, but we know this: that's what Jesus would have wanted. For Christ's love extended beyond caring for the earthly needs of others. He had come to lay down His life in love. He had come to satisfy the great spiritual need of all people, the forgiveness of their sins. In love He not only healed Malchus' ear, but He would also in a few hours give Himself into death to pay the debt that Malchus owed for His disobedience toward God.
Whether we have two good ears or not, we pray that Jesus' love would be made known to us through the word, so that we too can be counted among those who "hear the word of God and treasure it" (cp. Luke 11:28). Hallelujah!
