Jesus heals Malchus

No matter how many times I have read through the final hours of Jesus' life on earth, it's absolutely mind-blowing to see his selfless, blameless, loving character shine through in his darkest hours. As I was reading this morning, this particular passage grabbed my attention:

Matthew 26:47-56

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

Luke 22:47-53

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.

John 18:10-11

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 its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter, in his passion, drew his sword and cut off Malchus' ear trying to somehow stop those arresting Jesus, and all the disciples left Jesus and fled. These were truly dark hours, yet in the midst of this passage we see something amazing.

First of all, Jesus knew all of this would happen. He had poured out his fear, his sorrow, and his request for this suffering to pass from him, to his Father in the hours leading up to this moment, and he had submitted himself to his Father's will. It didn't matter who was there to arrest him or what their reasons were, because Jesus knew God's purpose, and this fueled his obedience. This was his Father's plan, not Judas', the high priest, the chief priests, or the elders. No matter how dark the circumstances were, this plan was prepared by the One who loved him perfectly, his Abba, Daddy. Jesus trusted his Father in the midst of betrayal, hostility, and abandonment.

When the crowd came and seized Jesus, Peter passionately drew his sword, clawing for a solution, and cut off Malchus' ear. Malchus was the servant of the high priest, Caiaphas. Imagine the scene. Malchus was a servant to the Hebrew's high priest, yet he stood before the Perfect and Final High Priest, Jesus Christ. He served the high priest who made atonement for the sins of the Hebrew people, yet he stood before the One who would make the final atonement for the sins of all people. As Malchus’ ear lay bloody on the ground, he might have thought:

What will Jesus do? I have heard of his miracles, how he has made the blind to see and the lame to walk. Will he heal me, even though I have come to arrest him?

Jesus' response was like pure light piercing the darkness. Jesus looked to the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2), and this not only helped him endure the cross, it also gave him the clarity to see others' suffering in the midst of his own. Jesus said, "No more of this!" and then he touched Malchus' ear and healed him. Wow! Jesus put a stop to the meager, fleshly attempt Peter made to stop his arrest. Peter didn't fully understand that Jesus' arrest and death were necessary; necessary for Malchus and him; necessary for everyone who arrested, abandoned, arraigned, assaulted, denied, and yes, even for those who followed Jesus. His death was (and is) necessary for all. Peter didn't need to claw for a solution, Jesus was and is the solution for all that is wrong in this world.

When Jesus touched Malchus and healed him, he demonstrated in a very tangible, visible way that he is the healing people need. Yes, he can heal people physically, but more importantly, he is the only Way for us to be healed spiritually. In that moment, Jesus illustrated to Malchus, that he is a very personal, compassionate God. He saw Malchus. He met Malchus‘ need on the precipice of his own pain and suffering.

Did you know that the name Malchus means king or kingdom? Most likely Jesus knew this, and by graciously healing Malchus, Jesus was inviting him into his Kingdom. Malchus, I will go and allow myself to be beaten, mocked, and crucified so that your soul might be saved, not just your ear. Malchus, come serve me, because I am a loving and gracious King who has everything you need. He showed Malchus, and all those watching, that he was the One who God would display his perfect love through. God's salvation would not come through a sword. It would come through a selfless, loving sacrifice.

Like Malchus' ear we were cut off from God. Our sin separated us from God and his wrath resided on us. We were dead in our sins, like that ear lying bloody on the ground, until Jesus touched us and healed us. Through faith in him, we are forgiven, clothed in his righteousness, and made a child of God. Like that restored ear, we are connected to the body of Christ, new life coursing through us, and able by the Holy Spirit, to hear and understand God's Word.

Isaiah 53:3-7, 10-11

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

As we enter Resurrection weekend, I encourage you to go through the gospels and read the account of Jesus, from the time he ate passover with his disciples until the time he rose up from the dead. There is so much to meditate on, and as we do, I believe the Holy Spirit will cause our adoration and appreciation for Jesus and what he accomplished for each one of us to grow.

Praise him! He is alive!

Amy