The Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servants name was Malchus.) John 18:18 (Matthew 26:36-56, Mark 14:32-89, Luke 22:40-53, John 18:1-12)
Judas betrays Jesus in the presence of all the important Jewish authorities and Jesus’ closest and dearest friends. His expectations must have been great for staging himself as the big hero of the day. Things took a drastic turn as he soon realized he played a major role in the doom of an innocent man.
Jesus took his friends to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Here, Heaven and earth come very close together. The men He had been given fell asleep, exhausted from their sorrow, leaving Jesus completely alone to face His dread and anguish, but as Jesus prayed and asked for this cup to be taken away, an angel appeared and gave Him strength. As He prayed the Temple guards, led by Judas came to arrest Him. Impulsive, loyal Peter, in the act of defending Jesus, cut off the ear of Malchus the servant. Jesus responded by stating that all of Heaven’s angels are at His command if He chose to call them. He chose not to.
On this night, everyone in the world wanted their own way……..except Jesus. He only wanted the will of the Father…….and death was defeated once and for all!
Love,
Gretchen