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HEALING THE EAR OF MALCHUS
LORD’S DAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 29
John 18:4-11

Matthew 5:38-48

 

For God planted the ear.

 

HEALING THE EAR OF MALCHUS
 
Peter’s impetuous temperament comes out in the action before us. Impulsive, earnest, zealous and inconsiderate of consequences, he acted hastily and his zeal soon cooled down and was changed into fear. It is not those who are for a time most demonstrative and fervent whose religion is deepest. John never smote with the sword, but John never denied his Lord and was at the foot of the cross when Christ died.
 
Whether the ear was cut off entirely, or only so cut as to hang down by the skin, may be left to conjecture. In any case we know that it gave occasion for the last miracle of bodily cure which our Lord ever wrought. Luke tells us that He “touched” (Luke 22:51) the ear and it was instantaneously healed. To the very end of His ministry, our Lord did good to His enemies and gave proof of His divine power. But His hardened enemies gave no heed. Miracles alone convert no one. As with Pharaoh, they only make some men harder and more wicked.
 
We cannot doubt that Peter meant to kill Malchus with this blow, which was probably aimed at his head. His own agitation probably and the special interposition of God alone prevented him taking away the life of another and endangering his own life and that of his fellow disciples. It was clearly an impulsive act of Peter, done without reflection. Zeal not according to knowledge often drives a man into foolish actions and makes work for repentance. The gospel is not to be propagated or maintained by carnal weapons, or by violence. Matthew adds the solemn words of Jesus: “…all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt 26:52). How needful the rebuke and how true the comment have often been proved by the history of the church of Christ. The appeal to the sword can rarely be justified and has often recoiled on the head of its promoters.
 
THOUGHT: (Read Matthew 26:52.)

PRAYER: Father, help me to use Thy methods only, and always.

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