Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 26:51-54
And
Read Mark 14:47
And
Read Luke 22:49-51
And
Read John 18:10-11
“Jesus, should we use our swords?” Whack!
So many times, we pray like that. We ask a good question – but we don't wait on the answer. We make up our minds and never hear what God has to say.
Now, we know that the man with the sword was Peter. Poor Peter, he was aiming for the man's head – but missed and only cut off his ear.
But think about it. Judas brought a cohort of the Temple Guard -- anywhere from 300 to 600 highly skilled, highly armed men. And in this corner, we have Peter -- so unskilled that he "missed". (I assure you he wasn't aiming for his ear!) I picture him shutting his eyes as he swung (I would have!).
Then Jesus answered the question. “No, this is not the time for swords and fighting. Put away your swords.”
Then Jesus healed His enemy's ear. Did you see that? Wow! He's been arrested – yet, He took the time to notice pain in someone – and showed him love and compassion even though he was an enemy. If you were Malchus, the man who had his ear cut off and then Jesus touched it and healed it completely – what would you be thinking?
Every time he touched his ear, he must have remembered the love in Jesus' eyes. I hope he pursued his questions and came to know this Healer as his Messiah!
I want you to think about Jesus telling the disciples to pack weapons (Luke 22:36) (Day 304) and now telling them not to use them. What's up with that?