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 ...
God who helps me [Psalms 121] Once, during a gathering of Westminster Theological Seminary alumni, I had the opportunity to have a meal with a missionary couple serving in China, along with their four children. As the children were all boys, while the missionary pastor was interacting with them, his wife shared a unique aspect of her mission work in China. She explained, showing us pictures, that she took an interest in reaching out to women engaged in the profession of prostitution. The pastor would travel by bus for about ten hours and then walk for two more hours to teach in a remote valley where foreigners were a rare sight. The people there showed genuine affection, and upon witnessing this, the pastor confessed that he, in fact, received grace from them. After a brief period of engaging in mission work, when the pastor's wife made a prayer request for us, she expressed her desire to bec...