Scripture:
John 18:4-11 ESV
[4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” [9] This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me, I have lost not one.” [10] 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.) [11] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Observation:
GOD, put this SOAP on my heart yesterday, and I have to put it out there. I hope it impacts the hearts of the readers. It was the night Jesus got arrested. HE had told HIS followers it was going to happen. But it seems like they didn’t believe HIM. In fact, at one point, Peter… after being told what was going to happen, said not on my watch, and Jesus sharply corrected him. By saying get behind me, Satan, you have in mind the things of men, not the things of GOD. Ok, so let’s set the scene a group of men come to arrest Jesus in the garden where HE had been praying and preparing for it to happen. As Jesus is walking forward in submission. Asking who these men were looking for and identifying HIMSELF as the one they were seeking. They seem to be intimidated by HIS answer. The Bible says they drew back. I’m sure that after hearing about all the miracles HE had done. They were overwhelmed by HIS presence. HIS betrayal was confirmed by the kiss of Judas, and it was all under way. The final sacrifice is to end all sacrifice. GOD’S spoken word being fulfilled in real time. All of the men who just a few minutes ago could not keep their eyes open are now fully awake and aware. Fear sets in with Peter, and HE reacts out of his flesh, drawing his sword and swinging for the fences… I’m sure the ear was not his aim. More than likely, it was the head. But he was a fisherman, not a swordsman. His experience with it was lacking, and Jesus knew it. Needless to say, off comes the ear, and yet another sharp correction from Jesus. Wait, Peter, we don’t fight like that, put it away. We fight evil with love.
Application:
Our inexperience with the word can leave people wounded if we are not careful. Just carelessly throwing “ingredients scripture” around to justify our behavior is dangerous. I see 2 ways to approach the bible… and both are used today. You can use the word to justify your behavior. For example. Saying my grace is sufficient for my power is made perfect in your weakness. So that you don’t have to change what you are doing. It can lead people to a very dangerous place. We have rightly to divide GOD’S living word. The other way to approach GOD’S word is to look at it consider what it says and shape our behavior to fit what it says. The first way of approach leaves people wounded. The second brings them to healing. When we have been given the responsibility of teaching the WORD of GOD, we should not take it lightly. People are being led one way or the other in James chapter 3. This truth is made very clear not all of you think of yourself as teachers. If you go around cutting people’s ears off, they won’t be able to hear what GOD is saying. Be careful when you draw your sword. It is so sharp that it can separate bone from the merrow. Let’s not run around wounding people. Let’s allow the love that is in GOD’S living word to heal them instead.
Prayer:
Father, we want to know you. It’s through your word that we find out who you really are. Your love runs deep through the black and white that is within your word. We want our lives to reflect who you are. Let us heal the ear, not hurt it. We don’t want to be pushing people away from you but drawing them near. Help us carefully choose the words we speak. So that ears will be opened, not cut clean off. We do not want to use your word to wound but to heal the hearts and spirits of those you put in our path. Our love for you is real, and that’s what we want to be seen. Show us the truth in your word so that we can kick down the gates of hell and get our brothers and sisters out, rather than throwing them in and slamming the gate behind them. Love is our weapon of mass warfare. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.