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 God Who Bestows Great Blessings “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). There is likely no one who would refuse the blessings bestowed by God. Even the Israelites, who received abundant material and spiritual blessings from God, rejoiced greatly after receiving these great blessings. However, the issue lies in what happens after receiving blessings. Without a mature character that can discern how to enjoy received blessings properly, one may end up wasting life, selfishly indulging in the blessings given by God, as happened with the Israelites. So, how can one possess a mature character that knows how to enjoy blessings? It should come from a heart that is guided by God's commandments rather than being led by the blessings. Like the Israelites, disregarding God's laws...