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 ...
“If God is for us” (11) [Romans 8:35-39] Look at Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul used the conjunction “For” (γὰρ) at the beginning of verse 38, which is a conjunction connecting the words in verses 38-39 with the words in verse 37, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” In other words, the Apostle Paul said to the Roman church saints, “I am convinced” (v. 38), because “in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (v. 37). More specifically, even if we face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword-like danger of death (v. 35), in all these things we overwhelmi...