MY VERSE(S): John 18:10-12 – “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?’ Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.”
MY REFLECTION: I’ve always been troubled by this passage. Not with Jesus healing Malchus’ ear. I LOVE THAT PART! But the fact that Peter had a sword to begin with bothers me.
Where did he get it? He didn’t need a sword; he was a fisherman. A knife, perhaps, but a sword? What’s he gonna use it for? It can only be for one purpose.
So here we have Jesus and the disciples in the Garden at night. It’s dark in more ways than one. This is the night that Jesus will be betrayed. This is the night that the disciples have feared. This is the night when all you-know-what breaks loose. Right?
And there, in the dark, is Peter with a sword. Here’s what bothers me. In the dark, you can’t tell the Christ-followers apart from the enemy. They look alike. They both have swords drawn and are ready, willing, and able to use them.
Is that right? Shouldn’t you be able to tell Christ’s disciples apart from those who march under the banner of an evil empire? Shouldn’t Christ-followers be radically, perceptibly different?
Am I? Are we?
This plays, very nicely, into our series on REVOLUTION.
Why aren’t Christ-followers known as the greatest lovers in the world?
Why, in most cases, do we fail to differentiate ourselves from the people around us? Is it because we’d rather talk about love than practice it?
How would this story have been different had Peter hugged Malchus rather than slicing off his ear?
MY PRAYER: Jesus, help me to stand out because of my radical love for you and for others. May I live in such close proximity to you – may I be so totally transformed by you – that people will see a difference in me and fall in love with you.
1 comments:
I happened to choose the same verses as Pastor today.
I can relate to Peter, not the having a sword part, but the acting impulsively and wanting to something--anything--rather than stand by and watch my dear friend and teacher get hauled off. I think Peter wanted a plan, and his plan involved Jesus remaining alive and being the leader in bringing this new kingdom to fruition. Jesus' question, "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" must have confused even perhaps conflicted with Peter's vision. How many times do I not see the big picture the way the Father sees it? My vision may not always line up with the Father's vision. Oh to have clear vision, so the action I take does not have to be repaired by Jesus. The good news is His love and compassion is greater than any action Peter or I could take.
A curious verse is vs 14 "Caiaphus was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people." A high priest with a part of the Father's plan for salvation in his thoughts? Hmmmm.
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