7. Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9. This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
Jesus was concerned for the disciples and their protection. He asked the question twice who you are seeking? He was confirming for the soldiers, they were not looking for the disciples, so they should let them go without harm.
The implication of v. 9 is not only prophetic fulfillment again, but the realization that the tiny band of disciples could have been wiped out. Jesus showed nothing would happen to them at this time.
Peter is about to blow it. Now that mob had reason to use their clubs and weapons. Peter does take out his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the High Priest. Peter’s action would give reason to arrest and even kill the disciples. But Jesus heals the ear of the slave and makes things right. Jesus rebukes Peter and tells him to put away the sword into its sheath.
Don’t you wonder if some authority said, “Wait a minute. We can’t let these men go; one of these Galileans assaulted one of us with his sword. He even cut off this man’s ear.”
I can almost hear the Roman commander respond, “Which ear? So far as I can see this man has two ears.” Don’t you just wonder how they responded to that incident? Can’t you just imagine what went through the mind of Malchus? Don’t you think he believed in Jesus then and there?
Jesus was never in the need for Peter to rescue Him, rather it was the other way around. He wants us to be obedient and trusting, recognizing that He is our protector. It is not by our strength or our activity or our wisdom that the Kingdom of God is advanced, but by the power of God and His might and our desire to follow Him.
Jesus prayed earlier, to His Father “When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Jesus was continuing doing an excellent job of taking care of them.
His protection of us is the same. You can be comforted today, you are under the protection of your Lord and Savior. Nothing can come to you outside of His will.
Prayer: Oh Jesus, how I love reading of your loving protection over me. Help me to trust you and not try to take things into my own hands and my own self will, but rather turn everything over to you.
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If you wish to get the fuller version of this daily devotion send a request via email to pastordale@outlook.com. For Pastor Cope's full bio, see the Staff page of this website.
