Devotional Reflection Based on the Incident of Peter Cutting Off Malchus's Ear: “Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.” ( Mark 14:47, Today's Korean Version ) 1. Identifying the People Involved: The person who stood beside Jesus and drew the sword was Simon Peter . The servant of the high priest was named Malchus . “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.” ( John 18:10 ) 2. Jesus' Response to Peter's Action: (a) Jesus said: “Permit even this.” ( Luke 22:51, KJV: “Suffer ye thus far”; RSV: “No more of this” ) The Greek words clarify this: “ἕως τούτου” (“heōs toutou”) = “up to this point” or “even this” “ἐᾶτε” (“eate”) = “allow it,” “let it be,” “leave it alone” Therefore, Jesus is essentially saying: “Let them do what they are doing. Do not resist any further.” “If ...
God’s presence [Acts 7:30-35] 1. When we are in distress, we must seek God's presence. God descended amidst the burning bush on Mount Sinai, which was covered in thorns. Considering that the word "thorn" is mentioned twice, it implies that God is not indifferent to our suffering, but rather, He sees our distress and hears our cries. Therefore, He comes down to rescue us. 2. Those who seek God's presence will hear His voice. When Moses approached the burning bush in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, he heard the voice of the Lord. We should always seek God's presence, especially when we are in distress. Therefore, we should draw closer to the Lord and seek to hear His voic...