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 ...
Jonah’s God (7) [Jonah 3:5-10] Long time ago, when my kids were little, I was little bit shock by what one of my kids said to her sibling. At that time I was watching a Korean drama and a guy was making a loud voice in his speech. And my kids were playing toys together and one of the kids who heard his speech told her sibling that ‘Daddy makes loud too.’ When her sibling heard her saying it, he said to me, ‘Daddy, she said your preaching is loud.’ When I heard him saying that, I was surprised. I thought that these two kids were thinking of my sermon as if it was “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). So I thought I should repent. Especially on that day afternoon, I learned from my mentor pastor that 'Preaching is the power of influencing' (the power of sermons and the work of the Holy Spirit), but my sermon has lost its meaning to my children because my sermon...