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 who cannot bear our misery any longer "So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer" (Judges 10:16). What is the heart of Heavenly Father toward us? In particular, what is the heart of Heavenly Father, who is looking at us when we are in misery? In Judges 10:16, Israel was in misery. Israel was greatly distressed (v. 9). The reason Israel was greatly distressed was because of God's anger against Israel and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites (vv. 7-8). The Philistines and the Ammonites afflicted and crushed the Israelites for 18 years (v. 8). And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed (v. 9). Then why was God angered against Israel? It was because the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the Lord, served the Baals an...