An Earful of Mercy

Today we read about another one of Simon Peter's mishaps. When the mob comes to arrest Jesus, Simon Peter doesn’t hesitate. He draws his sword and strikes—cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. It’s rash, bold, and even... well, understandable. After all, he’s trying to protect Jesus. But he’s doing it, of course, in his usual act-before-you-think way. And off goes the ear.

Instead of focusing on the impulsive Simon Peter today… What must it have been like for that poor guy, Malchus (and his ear)? According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus isn’t caught up in panic or fear. He sees the servant’s wound, reaches out, and heals Malchus’s ear. No show, no speech. Just mercy, in motion. In action.

Imagine Malchus going home that night.

Malchus's wife: “Where were you all night?”
Malchus: “Out with the priests… we arrested Jesus.”
Wife: “And?”
Malchus: “Well… one of His guys cut off my ear.”
Wife: “Which one? You’ve still got both!”
Malchus: “Exactly. You won’t believe what Jesus did next…”

And then he tells her everything—how a follower of Jesus attacked him, and how Jesus, the very one being arrested, stopped the chaos to make him whole again. And I hope, I really really hope that he would’ve told her how it made all the difference to him. And that from that day forward, he would no longer lend his ears to the religious leaders of his day, but only to Jesus.

Unfortunately, we just don’t know. But we can imagine how it must have been a deeply pivotal moment—perhaps for Malchus (and his wife) or even for Simon Peter, but definitely for us. Romans 12 reminds us: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

That night, only one man who truly acted out of a longing for shalom-like peace and wholeness was the one being captured: Jesus. Simon Peter acted from fear and misdirected loyalty. Malchus, perhaps also. But Jesus acted from peace and perfect love.

So here’s the question for today: When I’m threatened or cornered, do I reach for the sword—or the way to heal? And a second: Can I be like Malchus? Wounded, yet unexpectedly touched by grace? Will I let Jesus heal me—even when I least expect Him to?