A failed apostle, four different viewpoints, and a one-eared servant

Then 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.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 18:10-11 ESV

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Matthew 26:52-54

But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Mark 14:47

But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.

Luke 22:51

Peter was always the one who acted first and thought about it later. In this case, he jumped to the defense of his Teacher when the officers of the chief priests and the Pharisees came to arrest him. Jesus knew that his arrest and how it happened were exactly what the prophecies and His purpose said they’d be, so he gave Peter a piece of advice and fixed the problems he’d caused.

It’s interesting to notice what gets recorded and remembered. Matthew, the guy in charge of keeping tax records, pointed out that the Scriptures had been fulfilled and that Peter had been reprimanded. Mark, Peter’s student, was probably writing what he had learned from him. He’s kinda vague about who the swordsman is, and he doesn’t report the scolding he got. Luke, the doctor, was the only one who brought up the healing of the ear.

Then there’s John, who calls himself the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20). Maybe it was an accident, maybe not, but John was the only one who gave away Peter’s identity. He also recorded at least part of the Lord’s rebuke. And for some reason, he included the name of the injured servant. Why did he do that?

John told these particular stories in this particular way on purpose: “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”(20:31). I think he named Malchus to show that what he was writing was true. Malchus would’ve been a pretty well-known guy back then, and there’s a good chance he was still alive to confirm the story when it was read to the churches. It’s really encouraging to know that God knows us all by name and understands our place in the kingdom story.

Here are a few Sunday lessons from the story of a failed apostle, four different viewpoints, and a one-eared servant:

• God knows you by name. He knows where you are and the purpose He has for you in service of the King (You do have a purpose as surely as you have a name!).
• The way you see things is important and unique. It’s also only part of the tale. We need to hear other people’s perspectives to get the full story.
• Even the most famous and dedicated among us will occasionally do something stupid. Don’t judge people by their worst moments, and don’t get discouraged when you need to be corrected yourself. Human!
• No matter how much of a mess you’ve made, God can and will clean it up. Ask Him and watch Him work.

As we head to church today, let’s keep these things in mind. You and everyone you’ll meet have a role to play. We’re all important and necessary, but we can’t do it alone. Let’s remember to appreciate one another. If you’ve made a mess, look for opportunities to let God clean it up. He wants to make things right between us. Let Him!