The Adventure Link
CSI: Jerusalem
The Severed Ear Evidence
At least two of the disciples were armed.
Having heard all Jesus’ talk of betrayal and His predictions about His arrest and crucifixion, the disciples did not go into the garden unarmed. Earlier that evening in the Upper Room, when Jesus was informing them that one of them would betray Him, Luke records an exchange that took place:
He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:35–38)
Christ was simply cautioning them about the impending violence. Although they had always been perfectly safe under God’s providential care, a horrific act of violence was about to be perpetrated against them. They needed to prepare themselves for it so that when it occurred, their faith would not be shaken. He was speaking, of course, about spiritual, not physical, preparedness.
They had taken a private inventory and found that they already had two swords among them. Jesus’ ambiguous reply (“It is enough”) probably meant “enough of such talk.” They may have thought He meant two swords were sufficient. In any case, His remark served its purpose and they thought no more about arming themselves further.
There was nothing unusual about Galilean fishermen carrying swords. These were long double-edged knives or daggers rather than full-length fighting swords. They were carried in a leather sheath strapped to the belt, and they had numerous practical uses other than violence against other people.
Of course, two weapons of that sort would be practically useless against an armed mob that included so many Roman soldiers. But the disciples, whose Messianic expectations no doubt still included the hope that Christ would rise up, overthrow Rome, and establish His throne in Jerusalem, may have been thinking He might use supernatural means to give the little band of disciples a miraculous military victory that night. And when they realized that Jesus was about to be taken by force, they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” (Luke 22:49).
They were undoubtedly emboldened by something only John reports. When the attackers announced that they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth, “Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’… Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:5–6). Such a display of supernatural power may have spurred the disciples’ thinking that Jesus planned to destroy His attackers supernaturally.
The there is Simon Peter. He saw no point in thinking or talking at this point. John tells us, “Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus” (v. 10). (Only John identifies Peter as the swordsman. It may be because the synoptic gospels were written much earlier, before Rome sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The synoptic writers may have refrained from identifying Peter because of the potential of reprisal from the Jewish leaders.)
Malchus was in all likelihood a high-ranking servant of the high priest, because he was apparently positioned at the front of the mob, an easy target for Peter. Peter was undoubtedly slashing at his neck or literally trying to split his skull, but Malchus flinched and Peter’s blow glanced off the side of his head, severing the ear.
The cause of Christ has never been advanced by earthly warfare, though many misguided souls have tried. When such tactics are employed, they invariably hurt our Christian witness rather than helping it. The kingdom of God cannot be enlarged by physical weapons or worldly strategies. As Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).
Jesus severely rebuked Peter: “Put your sword into the sheath” (John 18:11). Matthew says He added, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). The words were an echo of Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.”
Jesus was signifying that He regarded Peter’s deed as no legitimate act of self-defense, but rather an unlawful act of attempted murder, worthy of punishment by death. Even though the arrest of Jesus was an unjust, cowardly act, it was being done by the duly established authorities in Jerusalem and therefore was not to be resisted with unlawful force . Acts of violence or civil disobedience by an individual against duly constituted governments are usually wrong, even if the government itself is unjust. (This is a point that needs to be reemphasized in an era when many Christians feel they are justified in breaking the law to protest government-sanctioned wrongs.)
Our Lord was not forbidding self-defense or defense of one’s loved ones from every kind of violent attacker. He was not sanctioning any kind of radical pacifism. He was simply establishing the importance of submission to divinely ordained authority, even when that authority is unjust or abusive. Therefore he admonished Peter, “Permit even this” (Luke 22:51).
Christ had no need of fleshly power to defend Him anyway. He had already made that point in a graphic way when His mere words caused His attackers to stagger and fall to the ground. He continued His rebuke of Peter, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). A legion was comprised of 6,000 soldiers. Twelve angelic legions would be 72,000 angels. Bear in mind that in the Old Testament—when Sennacherib’s armies threatened Jerusalem—a single angel slew 185,000 Assyrian troops in one night (2 Kings 19:35). So the military might of 72,000 angels would be quite imposing!
If Christ had intended to be rescued from this armed mob, He certainly would not have needed Peter’s sword.
But, he reminded Peter, He had a higher purpose. “How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matthew 26:54). If angels rescued Him at this point, His atoning work could not be accomplished. “Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” (John 18:11).
Malchus’s severed ear was apparently still dangling from the side of his head.
In a remarkable display of Jesus’ power, “He touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51). This is the only incident recorded in Scripture where Christ healed a fresh wound. It is all the more remarkable for the fact that Malchus was an unbeliever, hostile to Christ. But perhaps the most remarkable fact is that the miracle was virtually ignored by the mob.
They carried on with their evil business as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened (v. 54). The healing of Malchus’s ear had no more effect on their hearts than the powerful force that had knocked them to the ground a few moments before.
Even a miraculous display of God’s power would not deter them from the evil goal they had set their hearts on.
The severed ear is often an ignored event in the sequence of events connected to the murder of Jesus, yet reminds us of the plan of God being at work, even in the midst of the maddening mob.
In your life when it seems loud, confusing, and seems as if you are losing ground remember that God is still at work. His plan is always best!
The adventure and the investigation continues.....
