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 strengthens me [Psalms 89:19-52] I heard the news about a former baseball player in South Korea who murdered 4 people and took his own life. I was wondering how a person could be so cruel and evil. I was surprised to see that human cruelty is this much. According to the news, this former baseball player has paid the money to others before committing suicide. Maybe he killed those four people in order to steal their money. In the end, I think that it was murder because of financial pressure. I hear from people and in the news that not only America but also Europe and Asia as a whole are doing bad economically. As a result, I think that this kind of sinful thing caused by financial pressure is being expressed. Many people are depressed and frustrated, and feel desperate in despair. Indeed, this world is full of sorrow and hardship. It is a world fil...