-April 24, 2022-
Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,
“And one of them stuck the servant of the high priest and cut of his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, ‘Permit even this.’ And He touched his ear and healed him.”
(Luke 22:50-51).
The account of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus is found in all four gospels. Only Luke, the beloved physician, however, mentions how Jesus healed the servant of the high priest of his severed ear; he even specifically says that it was his right ear. John tells that it was Peter who raised a sword and cut off the ear of Malcus mentioned by name by John. Peter was a better fisherman than swordsman!
It was definitely not Peter’s finest hour, but Jesus intervened and healed Malcus’ ear. Jesus, even in His trying hour of betrayal and arrest, showed such compassion, mercy, and kindness to an enemy. It speaks volumes of the love of Jesus. Malcus was the servant of Caiaphas, the high priest. We don’t know much about him. His name is a Roman name, meaning “king or counselor.” Thus he was likely a Roman. So many might say and rightfully so, he was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, doing the right thing; but God had a purpose for him at the time that would glorify the Lord. He was there to arrest Jesus but Jesus showed His power and love to him.
I’m sure Malcus was grateful to Jesus and never forgot this incident the rest of his life. We don’t know if he ever got saved. Malcus is a lot like us before we got saved: enemies of Jesus. Paul wrote in Romans 5:10, “If while we were enemies were were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Think of the story that Malcus had tell to family and friends of how his ear was cut off and how Jesus healed him. We as believers in Christ have an even better story to tell of how Jesus touched our lives and saved us from our sins. This was the last miracle of Jesus before He died on the cross. on earth. Isn’t that remarkable? His first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Now this healing of Malcus was His last one. Malcus could say, “First I was struck than I was healed in a matter of seconds!”
Let us learn the lesson to love our enemies and pray for their salvation. When we turn the other cheek, return good or evil, and love our enemies, we can have a huge impact on others.
Have a blessed day showing the compassion of Jesus in every season. Stay safe and healthy.
In His grace,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 