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 ...
When it is being rebuilt [Nehemiah 4:7-14] If we look at the Internet cyber reading class, there is an article called ‘There is no fear’ written by a person named Mun-ju Kang. Part of the text reads: ‘The thing we have to fear most is fear itself,’ said President Franklin D. Roosevelt at his inauguration on March 4, 1933, to the anxious and frustrated people of the Great Depression. At that time, an unprecedented economic crisis in the United States left 15 million people unemployed, and as financial institutions such as banks went bankrupt, extreme fear swept over the people. … What is the most important thing at this time? Roosevelt perceived that the recovery of confidence was more urgent than any other economic policy in overcoming the recession. Endless anxiety and defeatism brought about by fear are seen as the essence of crisis. Roosevelt wanted to cut off the process in which a sense...