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 ...
All the men who volunteered [Nehemiah 11:1-2] Do you know where the term "volunteer" originated? In the Western world, it started being used to refer to support soldiers who volunteered for military service during World War I, and from there, the term evolved to encompass modern volunteerism. Today, it not only pertains to activities in social welfare but has spread to various areas including transportation, environment, crime, and community issues. Therefore, when we say "volunteers," we refer to people who willingly take action to create a better community. Volunteerism possesses three key characteristics (Internet): (1) The first characteristic is "voluntarism": "How can I not do this?" Voluntarism emphasizes taking action based on individual free will and agency. Especially in today's highly specialized society, it requires individuals to proactively add...