[After Judas betrayed Jesus to the mob,] one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
Key Thought
Peter and the apostles had all agreed that they would die with Jesus if necessary. [1] Yet their thoughts seemed locked into a wrong way to view their LORD as Messiah. Apparently they thought he would be a military and political deliverer. So in what seems like an attempt to start the battle of deliverance, Peter drew a sword and began the fight. [2] He surely was thinking that this Jesus he had seen raise the dead, heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, mend the limbs of the lame, open the ears of the deaf, and give perfect skin to the leprous would also use his power for victory over an armed crowd. So in an act of faith, defiance, and hope, the sword was drawn and the attack was begun. It was aimed at the house of those behind this whole evil scheme — the high priest and his gang of Sadducean thugs. While Peter’s action was totally misguided, he did show courage and the passion and his commitment to die with Jesus if necessary. Unfortunately, when Jesus refused to be that kind of Messiah, all of Jesus’ followers deserted him. [3] Ignorance of the LORD’s will is not bliss, but disaster. Passion is good, but if it is misguided, it is also dangerous. Our hearts need to be tuned to the Savior or else we will miss his direction and find ourselves embarrassed and defeated.
[2] John 18:10.
[3] Mark 14:50.
Today’s Prayer
O LORD God, ruler of heaven and earth, teach me to know your ways and walk in your will. May I live with passion, but may that passion always be expressed in the direction of your will. May I live with courage, but may that courage be demonstrated in righteous actions. Search me, O God, and correct anything wrong in me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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