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 ...
The Word became flesh (8) [John 1:1-4, 9-14] Let me ask the question: When God created Adam and Eve, did God intend for them to be served or to serve? The answer is that God created Adam and Eve for the purpose of serving. So, Adam and Eve must have served well. But in Genesis 3, Eve was deceived by the serpent, the most cunning of the wild beasts (Gen. 3:1). The key to that delusion was “You will be like God”: “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (v. 5). Why did the serpent, Satan, deceive Eve like this? The reason is that Satan himself, a fallen angel and an evil angel, wants to be like the Most High God. Look at Isaiah 14:12-14: “ How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have ...